CBS counts 74,000 low-earning self-employed in care

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) found an average of 74,000 "overige zelfstandigen" (other self-employed) per year in care and welfare in 2021-2023, for whom this was their main or a side income.

Driving the news: The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) asked for research on self-employed people in care and welfare, as part of the Arbeidsmarkt, Zorg en Welzijn programme. Overige zelfstandigen work for themselves but are not entrepreneurs.

Who they are: CBS gives examples of people in this group:

• People who provide care to acquaintances through a personal budget (PGB).
• Childminders (gastouders) who are not employed and do not meet the entrepreneur criteria.
• People with (occasional) income as a cleaner, guest speaker, teacher or author.

By the numbers:

• 80 percent are women, and the average age is 49.
• For 29 percent, this income is their main source of income.
• The typical annual income is €13,000 when it is the main income, and €2,000 when it is a side income.

Zoom in: In their tax returns, these people most often described their work with the terms "pgb" and "gastouder". Among those whose main income is this work, 50 percent said in the labour force survey (EBB) that they work most hours as self-employed. Another 35 percent said they were employees, and 15 percent said they were not working.