Seven percent of young people have never had a job | Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

In 2023, there were nearly 1.7 million young people in paid employment and 510 thousand not in work. Among young people not in work, 161 thousand had never worked at all, or 7 percent of all young people. The percentage who had never worked was highest among 15-year-olds, at 28 percent. The figure among 16-year-olds was lower at 16 percent, while among 17-year-olds it was 10 percent. It was lowest among those aged 22, 23 and 24, just 2 percent of whom had never had paid work.

Many unemployed young people have worked recently

Among unemployed young people (i.e. young people who were seeking work and available for work immediately), 20 percent had never had a job. By contrast, among those not in work but also not seeking work and not available for work, this share was 40 percent.

Many unemployed young people have been in work recently: 60 percent have been employed within the last year. Among those not in work but not seeking work and not available for work, this is less often the case. The semi-unemployed (i.e. people who are either not seeking work or not available for work) occupy a position somewhere between these two groups.

Most of those not in work are studying

In 2023, most young people not in work were in education or training. Young people who were not seeking work and not immediately available for work named studying as the main reason for this (84 percent), followed by illness/incapacity for work (10 percent).

Unused labour potential has increased

In Q4 2023, unemployed young people indicated that they would like to work an average of at least 18 hours per week. Among semi-unemployed people, this number was slightly lower at 15 hours. This equates to an unused labour potential of 63 thousand and 36 thousand (FTE), respectively, for a 40-hour work week. Particularly among the unemployed, this figure has risen over the past two years, both due to an increase in the number of unemployed persons and an increase in the number of hours they would like to work. Unemployment among young people also increased in the first months of 2024.

More young part-time workers would like to work more hours

Unused labour potential includes part-time workers who would like to work more hours. In Q4 2023, there were 241 thousand young people in this category. They indicated that they would like to work nearly 8 hours more per week, on average, amounting to 46 thousand jobs (FTE). This number has also increased: in Q4 2021 it was 40 thousand (FTE). This rise is due to the increase in the number of part-time workers rather than the number of hours that people would like to work.