Netherlands Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Netherlands's unemployment rate was 3.87% in 2025, ranked 66th globally. This represents a 5.9% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Netherlands's unemployment rate stood at 3.87% in 2025, a rise of +0.22pp from 2024. The IMF projects 3.84% by 2025. Netherlands ranked 66th globally.
The Netherlands’ unemployment rate stood at 3.87 % in 2025, placing the country 66th in the world according to World Bank data. Over the 46‑year span from 1980 to 2025 the rate has moved between an all‑time peak of 8.25 % in 1983 and a trough of 2.12 % in 2001, reflecting the combined effects of the early 1980s recession and the strong labour‑market reforms of the late 1990s. The 2025 figure is marginally higher than the early‑2020s low, yet remains well below the peak and comparable to peer economies such as Bangladesh (3.78 %) and Sri Lanka (4.00 %). The modest rise suggests that while the Dutch labour market retains considerable resilience, future shifts in demographic ageing, automation and fiscal policy will be decisive in determining whether the unemployment rate continues its gradual upward drift or reverts toward the low‑level equilibrium seen after 2001.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 4.50% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 4.42% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 4.33% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 4.19% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 4.01% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 3.84% | - | - |
| 2025 | 3.87% | +0.22pp | #66 |
| 2024 | 3.70% | +0.15pp | #65 |
| 2023 | 3.54% | −0.00pp | #62 |
| 2022 | 3.53% | −0.70pp | #50 |
| 2021 | 4.21% | −0.64pp | #50 |
| 2020 | 3.82% | −0.62pp | #40 |
| 2019 | 3.38% | −1.50pp | #46 |
| 2018 | 3.83% | −2.04pp | #56 |
| 2017 | 4.84% | −2.17pp | #79 |
| 2016 | 6.01% | −1.88pp | #98 |
| 2015 | 6.87% | −1.47pp | #103 |
| 2014 | 7.42% | −0.79pp | #109 |
| 2013 | 7.24% | +0.42pp | #104 |
| 2012 | 5.82% | −0.23pp | #86 |
| 2011 | 4.98% | −1.11pp | #73 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Netherlands matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
The Netherlands reported 408,000 unemployed individuals in September, providing a recent absolute measure that contributes to the overall unemployment rate of 3.87%. This figure is contextualized by 3.2 million people outside the labor force. While Spain's high unemployment rate offers a comparative European perspective, it does not directly impact the Netherlands' specific unemployment figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Netherlands's unemployment rate was 3.87% in 2025. Ranked 66th globally. This represents a 5.9% increase from the previous year.
Netherlands's unemployment rate peaked at 8.25% in 1983.
The lowest unemployment rate in Netherlands was 2.12% in 2001.
Netherlands ranks 66th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Netherlands's unemployment rate is projected to reach 3.84% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Netherlands in 2025 was 3.87%. This ranks 66th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_netherlands_unemployment-rate,
title = {Netherlands Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/netherlands/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}