Rising number of Dutch workers sidelined by illness and disability
Nearly 2.3 million working-age Dutch citizens were not employed in 2025, with illness or disability as the top reason. This marks a second year of increase, raising concerns about labor market participation and long-term workforce availability.
| Key Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Total non-working individuals (2025) | 2.3 million |
| Increase since 2023 | 40,000 |
| Non-working due to illness/disability | 806,000 |
| Non-working due to education | 211,000 |
| Non-working due to caregiving | 225,000 |
| Unemployed (actively seeking work) | 389,000 |
| Semi-unemployed | 251,000 |
| Not expecting to work in future | 1.1 million |
| State pension age (2024-2025) | 67 years |
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) monitors labor market trends, including employment rates and reasons for non-participation. These insights help policymakers and businesses address workforce challenges and design targeted support programs.
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Illness or disability most commonly cited reason for not working
In 2025, there were nearly 2.3 million people of working age (15 to state pension age) who were not in employment. The number of non-working individuals has increased slightly for the second consecutive year, by 40,000 in total. Previously, the number had been declining almost continuously: a decade ago, there were nearly 2.7 million. The most commonly cited reason for not working is illness or disability. About half of those not in employment are actively seeking work, available for work, or expect to work in the future, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
There were 4,000 more non-working individuals aged 55 to state pension age in 2025 than in 2023. The number of non-working individuals has also risen in other age groups, except among those aged 25 to 35 (-3,000). In 2024 and 2025, the state pension age was 67, compared to 66 years and 10 months in 2023.
In the Labour Force Survey (EBB), CBS asks about job-seeking and availability for work. The latest figures on this can be found in the labour force dashboard.
806,000 people not working due to illness or disability
Of the nearly 2.3 million people aged 15 to state pension age without work in 2025, 389,000 had been actively seeking work and were available to start within two weeks (unemployed). A further 251,000 were either seeking work or available to work (semi-unemployed). More than 1.6 million non-working individuals were neither seeking work nor available to start within two weeks. Of these, 806,000 were not working due to illness or disability. Another 245,000 were not working due to age or retirement. The higher the age, the larger the group not working due to illness or age. Particularly among those under 25, the main reason for not working was education (211,000). There were also 225,000 people not working due to caregiving responsibilities.
Especially those not working due to illness or disability unlikely to become available for work in future
Among those aged 15 to state pension age who were not working in 2025 because they were in education, 6% expected not to work in the future. Of those citing caregiving as their main reason for not working, 58% expected not to work in the future, compared to 79% of those citing illness or disability. In total, nearly 1.1 million people who are not currently working do not expect to work in the future. The remaining 569,000 people who are neither seeking work nor available to start expect to work in the future, either probably or certainly. Most of them anticipate returning to work in a year or later, with a smaller group expecting to do so within a year.
Sources
Relevant links
- News release - Unemployment at 4.1% in February
- Dashboard - Labour force
- Journal of Labour Issues - Labour potential: how many non-working individuals expect to become available for work?
- News release - Fewer vacancies, more unemployed