# 31% of Dutch employee jobs are at family businesses

> Statistics Netherlands (CBS) says family businesses account for nearly a third of employee jobs, and three quarters of those in agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Economy · published 2026-10-29 05:46 · https://nlnow.nl/a/31-of-dutch-employees-work-at-a-family-business/

In December 2024, 31% of employee jobs in the Netherlands were at a family business, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports. Non-family businesses accounted for 50.2% of employee jobs.

Retail has the most family businesses, just over 36,000, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing with nearly 36,000. In agriculture, forestry and fishing almost 45% of businesses are family-run, the highest share of any sector.

**Agriculture, forestry and fishing has the highest share of jobs at family businesses** (% of employee jobs at family businesses, December 2024; source: CBS)

- Agriculture, forestry and fishing: 73.3
- Car trade and repair: 68.6
- Hospitality: 63.1
- Construction: 57.8
- Retail: 50.9
- Wholesale: 42.6
- Business services: 37.8
- Transport and storage: 35.1
- Industry: 34.7
- All activities: 31

Most family businesses are small. Of all family businesses in 2024, 85% were micro businesses of 2 to 10 working people, more than 252,000 in total. Among other businesses, 52% are micro businesses.

Large firms with 250 or more working people also include family businesses: 630 of them, or 17% of that category.

Family businesses also last longer. Nearly 19% are thirty years old or more, against nearly 9% of other businesses. Another 46% are ten to thirty years old, against slightly more than 29% of other businesses.

## Background

- **CBS (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek)**: Statistics Netherlands, the independent government body that produces the official statistics on the Dutch economy and society.

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