Labour productivity in the Netherlands grew by 2.4% in 2024, the highest rate in two decades, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Economists attribute the rise partly to structural factors — including the earlier closure of the Groningen gas field, which had previously inflated productivity figures, and stricter enforcement of rules against bogus self-employment, which reduced working hours without shrinking overall economic output. While the result is broadly welcomed, some experts caution that distortions in the data make it difficult to determine how much genuine efficiency improvement has occurred, and that sustained growth over several years will be needed to confirm a real trend.