Netherlands Agriculture Employment
Employment in agriculture SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS
Netherlands's agriculture employment was 1.70% in 2025, ranked 23rd globally. This represents a 2.4% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Netherlands's agriculture employment stood at 1.70% in 2025, a decline of +0.04% from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 1.56% by 2026. Netherlands ranked 23rd globally.
Netherlands’ share of the labour force employed in agriculture fell from 4.29 percent in 1991, the highest level recorded over the 35‑year series, to 1.70 percent in 2025, the lowest point and the 23rd‑largest share among all economies in the World Bank database. This decline reflects the country’s long‑standing structural shift toward high‑value manufacturing, services and intensive horticulture, which have absorbed workers formerly engaged in traditional farming. The reduction is comparable to the experience of other advanced European economies; for example, Denmark’s agricultural employment stands at 1.62 percent and Sweden’s at 1.77 percent, indicating a regional convergence toward a sub‑two‑percent share. The trough in 2025 coincides with broader EU trends of farm consolidation, mechanisation and the adoption of precision agriculture, which have raised productivity while diminishing labour demand. Continued advances in agri‑technology and potential policy incentives for sustainable farming could modestly stabilise the share, but the long‑term trajectory points to further marginalisation of agricultural employment.
Data & projection
| Year | Agriculture Employment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | 1.36% | - | - |
| 2027* trend | 1.46% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 1.56% | - | - |
| 2025 | 1.70% | −0.04% | #23 |
| 2024 | 1.75% | −0.07% | #23 |
| 2023 | 1.81% | −0.03% | #24 |
| 2022 | 1.85% | −0.30% | #22 |
| 2021 | 2.15% | +0.10% | #25 |
| 2020 | 2.05% | +0.04% | #24 |
| 2019 | 2.01% | −0.05% | #22 |
| 2018 | 2.06% | −0.17% | #23 |
| 2017 | 2.22% | +0.03% | #25 |
| 2016 | 2.19% | −0.04% | #24 |
| 2015 | 2.24% | −0.06% | #24 |
| 2014 | 2.30% | +0.11% | #24 |
| 2013 | 2.19% | −0.47% | #21 |
| 2012 | 2.66% | −0.07% | #24 |
| 2011 | 2.73% | −0.04% | #24 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Netherlands matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw agriculture employment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Netherlands's agriculture employment was 1.70% in 2025. Ranked 23rd globally. This represents a 2.4% decrease from the previous year.
Netherlands's agriculture employment peaked at 4.29% in 1991.
The lowest agriculture employment in Netherlands was 1.70% in 2025.
Netherlands ranks 23rd globally in agriculture employment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Netherlands's agriculture employment is projected to reach 1.56% by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The agriculture employment of Netherlands in 2025 was 1.70%. This ranks 23rd in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_netherlands_agriculture-employment,
title = {Netherlands Agriculture Employment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/netherlands/agriculture-employment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}