Balance is slowly being restored between supply and demand in the Dutch labour market, but many firms and organisation still find it difficult to recruit enough staff. The labour market is therefore still tight.
According to the most recent figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS), there were 91 job openings for every 100 unemployed people at the beginning of 2026. This is much lower than the peak of 142 in spring 2022, but well above a long-term average prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (32 vacancies for every 100 unemployed people). A Statistics Netherlands survey among employers reveals that the most acute staff shortages remain in business services such as security, cleaning and temporary staffing. More than half of companies in these sectors struggle with staff shortages.
One of the key reasons is that most people in the Netherlands who are able and willing to work are already doing so. Compared to other countries in Europe, the labour participation rate in the Netherlands is high. As at the end of 2025, over 76% of people aged 15-74 were either working or actively looking for work. This is a new record. Among people aged 25-65 this percentage was even higher, at 90%. This means there are relatively few people available who are not currently working and who are immediately available to fill a vacancy. In addition, population ageing plays a role. An increasing proportion of the population is reaching retirement age, while the proportion of younger people who are able to work is decreasing. As a result, the growth of potential labour supply is slowing down.
The ongoing tightness in the labour market has several implications for the economy. Companies and organisations struggle to carry out their operations, which can lead to longer waiting times (healthcare) or delays (construction, installation of heat pumps or solar panels). Labour tightness can also put a brake on economic growth by preventing companies from expanding production. Workers in a tight labour market often have stronger bargaining power, which may lead to higher wages.
We cannot easily increase the number of people employed or the hours they work, but we can try to reduce the demand for labour, for example by learning to work more efficiently, increasing productivity or ceasing to perform certain tasks. Investing in technology, innovation, and developing workers' knowledge and skills are essential in this respect. Organising work processes and using technological innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots in a smarter way can also help to perform tasks more efficiently, reducing the need for additional staff.
See our news item Tight labour market calls for broad public debate
For the technical analysis of the impact of population ageing and some ways to mitigate its negative effects, read our DNB Analysis - Tight labour market: the new normal? (in Dutch)
In the Netherlands, almost half of the working population works part-time. In policy debates, part-time work is often cited as a means of alleviating the labour shortage. You can also read our news item about incentives that get people to work more or fewer hours.
Labour mobility can also ease pressure on the labour market by enabling workers to move more quickly to where their skills are most needed and where they provide the greatest added value. In this analysis, we examine the scale and direction of job changes among workers: Job switchers often move to a different sector.
Continued labour market tightness and increased inflation have led to a marked rise in wages in the past two years. Workers have stronger wage bargaining power in a tight market, especially when the cost of living increases due to inflation. This wage growth is important to support their purchasing power.
However, it is important that wage increases are controlled. If wages rise too fast and too much, companies may be forced to raise the prices of their products and services to cover the higher labour costs. This can then lead to a vicious cycle, with workers again demanding higher wages to pay for increased prices. Such a development is known as a wage-price spiral and can become a source of persistent inflation. In the Netherlands, wage growth is slowing down again after the inflation peak and we do not see a wage-price spiral developing. A balanced development of wages and prices is necessary for stable economic development
DNB research shows a low likelihood of wage-price spiral in the Netherlands
DNB research indicates that low income and job insecurity often coincide with other vulnerabilities such as high housing costs, high energy bills, debt and a lack of financial buffers. Read more about this study and our recommendations here.
In another study, we take a detailed look at the differences between flexible and permanent contracts: The price of flexible jobs: Wage differentials between permanent and flexible jobs in The Netherlands.
We address labour market developments in our semi-annual projections for the Dutch economy. Read our latest projections here: DNB Spring Projections 2026
12 June 2026
Background
Higher energy prices, uncertainty, and cautious consumers and businesses are holding back growth. Our Spring Projections show that the impact on inflation remains moderate for the time being. Below, we highlight the key developments in five figures.
Read more The five key figures on the Dutch economy
12 June 2026
Press release
Growth in the Dutch economy is expected to be significantly lower this year than in 2025. This is largely due to the war in the Middle East, which has also caused inflation to rise in recent months. This is evident from the Spring Projections, published today by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).
Read more War in the Middle East is holding back economic growth and driving up inflation
28 May 2026
News
In more than half of all cases, Dutch workers who switch jobs also move to a completely different sector. These findings follow from the latest analysis by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). Such labour mobility contributes not only to redistribution of the labour force among firms, but also across sector
Read more Job switchers often move to a different sector
02 April 2026
News
Workers in the Netherlands say that, on average, they spend a fifth of their working hours on activities that are not part of their core tasks. Meetings and administrative duties take up the bulk of this time, particularly in education and the public sector.
Read more In a tight labour market, workers spend a lot of their time on non-core tasks, devoting a full day per week to meetings and administrative duties