The Hague, June 19, 2023 – According to a recent report by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), half of the job seekers in the Netherlands who found employment in the first quarter of 2023 were under the age of 25. The study, based on data from 2013 to 2021, also revealed that factors such as labor market attachment and the presence of employment obstacles significantly influenced the transition to work.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, a total of 3.6 million individuals were without work. Among this group, young people who were not working due to education or studies were more likely to secure paid employment in the following quarter. Additionally, individuals actively seeking work, including the unemployed and semi-unemployed, also experienced relatively high rates of employment. Various other characteristics, alongside age and labor market attachment, played a lesser role in the transition to work.
The fourth quarter of 2022 saw 350,000 individuals classified as unemployed, 306,000 as semi-unemployed, and nearly 3 million individuals not immediately available or actively seeking work due to various reasons. Among the unemployed, who demonstrated the strongest labor market attachment by recently searching for work and being available in the short term, 137,000 found paid employment in the first quarter of 2023, accounting for 39 percent of the group. Semi-unemployed individuals followed, with a 20 percent transition rate to work, while students and scholars achieved a 19 percent transition rate. On the other hand, among those who were not searching for work or unavailable due to caregiving responsibilities, retirement, or illness, the average transition rate was 2 percent.
The study also highlighted the importance of age in the transition to work. Among individuals who were jobless in the fourth quarter of 2022 but gained employment in the first quarter of 2023, 51 percent were aged 15 to 25. This age group represented the largest proportion of individuals transitioning into employment. As age increased, the contribution to the overall transition decreased. Younger individuals primarily transitioned into employment from education or unemployment.
Furthermore, the report indicated that the presence of employment obstacles significantly influenced the transition to work. Analysis of data from 2013 to 2021 showed that individuals with employment obstacles, along with labor market attachment and age, experienced a stronger correlation with the transition to work. Other factors, such as gender and having a partner, played a lesser role. For example, women with partners were less likely to transition into work compared to men with partners. Long-term unemployment and lower levels of education also reduced the likelihood of transitioning into employment. Additionally, individuals with a foreign background had lower rates of employment. Conversely, those who had previous work experience or were part of households with working partners exhibited a higher likelihood of transitioning into employment.
The findings of the CBS report provide valuable insights into the dynamics of job transitions in the Netherlands, highlighting the significance of age, labor market attachment, and the presence of employment obstacles. Policymakers and stakeholders can use this information to develop targeted strategies to support job seekers, particularly young individuals, in finding sustainable employment opportunities.