Rise in economically independent women in Netherlands has stalled

The share of economically independent women in the Netherlands is stagnating. As in 2023, approximately 70 percent earned an income of at least the social assistance level from their work last year. For men, this has been stable for some time at around 83 percent, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported based on the most recent figures.

For years, more and more women became economically independent until 2022, with a once-off weaker increase in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic hit. In 2023, there was a stagnation because the minimum wage and, therefore, social assistance benefits increased, while net incomes increased by less. Last year, there was again no clear growth because women, like men, did not significantly increase their working hours.

The share of economically independent men, which refers to 15- to 67-year-olds who are not actively studying, has been above 80 percent since 2018. Among women, this has since grown from 63 percent to 70 percent, aided by their increased working hours.

The difference between the economic independence of men and women is greatest in Urk (89 percent to 60 percent), and is smallest in Groningen (77 percent to 72 percent).

Earlier this month, CBS reported that the Netherlands has a steadily declining number of women without their own income. Last year, that figure was 6 percent, compared to 10 percent ten years earlier.