The questions regarding employment status were asked to individuals aged 15 and older, the legal age to enter the labor market. With several of these questions, it is possible to determine how many people are working, looking for work, or not active in the labor market (see box for definitions).
The employed and the job seekers together form the labor force. Compared to the 2011 census, the labor force has remained almost the same, with an increase of only 0.3 percent. The labor force amounts to 72,288 individuals, of which 67,245 are employed and 5,044 are seeking employment.
The total participation rate indicates the proportion of the total population that is active in the labor market, including both the employed and the job seekers. In 2023, this total labor participation rate is 46.4 percent, which is 1.5 percentage points lower than in 2011.
The participation rate of the population aged 15 and older has also declined, from 59.5 percent in 2011 to 54 percent in 2023. This decline can partly be explained by the increasing aging of the population, although people above the retirement age still belong to the labor force.
