4 months Ago
Despite the country's high rate of part-time employment, the Dutch maintain the highest net labour participation across the EU, resulting in more working hours overall. The official state pension age in the Netherlands is currently 67.
Working Longer Across Europe
Europeans overall are staying in the workforce longer. In 2015, the average EU career lasted under 35 years, but that number has steadily risen, with only a brief decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 40 years of work is now common in countries like Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, and the Netherlands. On the other end, Italy and Romania report the shortest working lives in the EU, averaging less than 33 years.
Gender Gap Narrowing, but Still Present
On average, women in the EU work 4.2 years less than men. In the Netherlands, that gap is slightly smaller, with men working an average of 3.9 years longer than women. Still, progress continues as more women stay in the workforce longer than in past decades.
While part-time work remains prevalent in the Netherlands, the country's labour force remains highly active and engaged, resulting in Europe's longest working careers.
