Women and other rights-based organisations are alarmed over the stalled increase in economically independent women in the Netherlands.

After years of steady progress, the number of economically independent women in the Netherlands has stagnated. Between 2018 and 2022, women’s economic independence rose from 63 to 70 percent, supported by increased working hours. However, following the COVID pandemic’s impact in 2020 and the limited net income growth in 2023—despite higher minimum wages and social benefits—no significant improvement has been recorded since last year.

Empowering women through economic independence lies at the heart of Gender Concerns International’s mission.