With a pandemic ongoing, the year 2020 reshaped the lives of young people in the Netherlands. In secondary education, relatively more students were promoted and almost all final examination students graduated. Fewer young people were at work; fewer girls between the ages of 12 and 18 used alcohol on occasion, and there was less excessive drinking among young men. The number of young people receiving youth care declined; on the other hand, the number of reported child abuse cases went up. Furthermore, compared to the previous year, in 2020 a smaller share of young people reported they were happy and satisfied with life. These are some of the results Statistics Netherlands (CBS) describes in the Annual Report of the National Youth Monitor 2021, published today.
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Do young people in the Caribbean Netherlands ever encounter bullying? What do they do in their free time? What are their future plans after graduation? This and more is presented in the Caribbean Netherlands Student Survey, held for the first time at the end of 2020. The survey forms part of the National Youth Monitor, compiled by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS).
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In 2019, more young people were receiving youth care than in 2015. On the other hand, there were relatively lower shares of young children in families living on income support, third-year secondary general students at VMBO, and young registered crime suspects. Youth labour participation was relatively higher while alcohol consumption remained unchanged in this period. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on figures regarding key indicators and the use of youth care, published today in the Annual Report of the National Youth Monitor 2020.
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In 2019, fewer young people in the Netherlands aged 12 to 24 years were volunteering compared to previous years. While girls are more likely to volunteer in the field of care, boys prefer activities in a sports association. The most important reason for young people to volunteer is that they enjoy it. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this in the latest edition of the National Youth Monitor, based on new figures taken from a survey on social cohesion and well-being.
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Of the 181 thousand young people aged 15 to 26 years who dropped out of education without obtaining a basic qualification, there were 70 thousand who were out of work in 2019. This is a relatively high share compared to those who did obtain a basic qualification. Common reasons for not working are illness and disability. Among the unskilled, those in employment often work at lower occupational skill levels than their peers with basic qualifications. Of the 625 thousand young people who are not in education but who do have a basic qualification, 66 thousand are out of work.
Read publicationBetween 2010 and 2014, over 14 percent of young Dutch between the ages of 12 and 20 were smoking. This percentage is particularly high in the north of the Netherlands. The share of young people smoking is highest in the province of Drenthe (19 percent), followed by the province of Groningen and the northern Netherlands region, each with 18 percent. The lowest share of smokers aged 12 to 20 is found in the middle region of the country. The municipal health care regions of Amsterdam, Utrecht and the Gooi- en Vecht area report a percentage share of 11 percent young smokers.
Read publicationMany municipalities in Groningen province have a very low employment rate among young people aged 15 to 27. Likewise, many young people in the larger cities in the provinces of South and North Holland are unemployed. Labour participation rates among young people in Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam are 59 percent, 52 percent and 53 percent respectively, considerably lower than the national average of over 62 percent.
Read publicationNearly half of the 15-year-olds in the Netherlands are attending a form of pre-vocationalsecondary education (vmbo) in the academic year 2014/’15. The share is particularly large in the provinces of Groningen and Friesland. The number of vmbo students provides an indication of the educational level of young people in a municipality.
Read publicationAt the end of 2014, the Netherlands had almost 230 thousand children aged 0 to 18 years in families relying on income support benefits, which equals 6.5 percent of all children living with their parents. The percentage shares were considerably higher in Rotterdam (18.2 percent) and Amsterdam (14.4 percent). The Hague also featured in the top 10 of municipalities with children raised on income support, 12.3 percent. Utrecht was not included in the top 10, but ranked above average with 8.1 percent.
Read publicationNearly one in three 18-24 year-olds smoke, and one in five of this age group are overweight. At the same time, nearly 91 percent report their own health as good or very good. Young people who smoke and those who are overweight are less positive about their health than those who do not smoke and those who are not overweight.
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