Resilience ‘here and now’
A major shock could threaten the current well-being of households, particularly those in vulnerable groups. Would households still be able to make ends meet? How large are the vulnerable groups that would be affected first in the event of a shock? Vulnerable groups include people who have only completed primary education, prevocational secondary education (VMBO) or level 1 secondary vocational education (MBO-1), the unemployed, the self-employed and people with health problems.
- Compared to other EU countries, the resources available to households are high or trending upwards, with the exception of perceived health.
- The relative size of vulnerable groups is trending downwards.
Livelihood of households
in EU
in 2017
in EU
in 2023
in EU
in 2023
Extent of vulnerable groups
in EU
in 2023
in EU
in 2023
in EU
in 2023
| Theme | Indicator | Value | Trend | Position in EU | Position in EU ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livelihood of households | Feeling in control of own life | 48.2% feel in control (scores 4 or 5 on a scale of 1-5) in 2024 | 3rd out of 27 in 2017 | High ranking | |
| Livelihood of households | Median wealth of households | € 133,300 per household (2023 prices), 1 January 2023 | increasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Livelihood of households | Savings in banks in the Netherlands | € 57,535 on average per household in 2024 | increasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Livelihood of households | Net labour participation | 73.2% of population aged 15-74 in 2024 | increasing (increase well-being) | 1st out of 27 in 2023 | High ranking |
| Livelihood of households | Perceived health | 76.6% of the population describe their own health as (very) good in 2024 | 10th out of 27 in 2023 | Middle ranking | |
| Extent of vulnerable groups | Level of education achieved: primary education, VMBO, MBO-1 | 25.7% of 15-74 year-olds have succesfully completed primary education, VMBO or MBO-1 in 2024 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 22nd out of 27 in 2023 | Low ranking |
| Extent of vulnerable groups | Unemployment | 3.7% of the labour force in 2024 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 5th out of 27 in 2023 | High ranking |
| Extent of vulnerable groups | Self-employed people without staff in poverty | 3.7% of self-employed live in a household in poverty in 2022 | decreasing (increase well-being) | ||
| Extent of vulnerable groups | Severe long-standing limitations due to health problems | 4.5% experience severe limitations doing usual activities in 2024 | decreasing (increase well-being) | 5th out of 27 in 2023 | High ranking |
In order to prevent major negative consequences for their well-being, households need to be able to withstand shocks, such as those caused by the COVID lockdowns and the sudden rise in energy prices in 2022. The ‘livelihood of households’ theme assesses whether the average household has the resources it needs to handle these kinds of events, and the ‘size of vulnerable groups’ theme measures what proportion of the population belongs to vulnerable groups. Vulnerable groups tend to have fewer resources, which can affect their ability to absorb shocks. These include people who have only completed primary education, VMBO or MBO-1, the unemployed, those in low-income self-employment and people with long-term disabilities due to health problems.
Compared to other EU countries, household resources are high or trending upwards, with the exception of perceived health. Median household net worth, average household savings at Dutch banks and net labour participation are trending upwards. From 2023 to 2024, household savings increased by 5 percent. Although less than half of the population experiences a high level of feeling in control of their own life, perceived control and net labour participation are among the highest in the EU-27.
The relative size of vulnerable groups is trending downwards. Unemployment did increase slightly in 2024 compared to 2023. Unemployment and the percentage of people with severe long-term disabilities due to health problems are low compared to other EU countries. In 2023, the Netherlands ranked fifth in the EU for both of these indicators. The size of the group of people who have only completed primary education, VMBO or MBO-1 is relatively large (22nd place in the EU-27 in 2023). In absolute terms, around 372,000 people are unemployed and 3.4 million people have no basic educational qualifications.