Overview

The Netherlands is facing a personnel shortage in various sectors such as construction, cultural, hospitality, and education. Companies are experiencing difficulty in finding suitable workers leading to increased workload for current staff. This tightness in the labor market has several causes:

• Aging:The number of retirees is rising, while fewer young people are choosing certain occupations.
• Economic growth: With the increase in economic demand, businesses are growing faster than the supply of workers.
• Change in skills: There is a shortage of workers with the right experience and training.
• Sectoral shifts: Sectors such as transportation, warehousing, and trade are seeing greater shortages due to specific labor and wage issues.

Business owners see finding suitable personnel as a major obstacle to their operations. The agriculture, industry, and other services are examples of this

Businesses in the communications sector, and mineral extraction to forestry and fishing are also experiencing bottlenecks. Figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics show that despite declining unemployment within the European Union, the number of unemployed is not enough to meet demand

The construction sector is experiencing a particular labor shortage, exacerbated by labor migration and conventional fluctuations. The transportation and warehousing segment is experiencing a higher workload as a result of these shortages

In the meantime, organizations in sectors such as recreation are adjusting their labor conditions and betting on retaining staff by making better offers or investing in training to manage the shortage. Looking at the forecast, it is clear that these challenges will most likely continue

Frequently Asked Questions

Which industries are experiencing the greatest labor shortages

The industries that currently have the greatest need for more staff include healthcare, engineering, education, and ICT. The tightness in these markets is caused by a combination of an aging population, economic growth, and changes in technology and society

What are the effects of staff shortages on supermarkets?

In the supermarket industry, staff shortages lead to several challenges, including reduced opening hours, longer wait times at the checkout, and sometimes even empty shelves. Supermarkets often have to make additional investments in recruiting and retaining employees

What do we expect from the future for staff shortages in the Netherlands?

We expect personnel shortages in the Netherlands to persist and possibly even increase from 2024. Factors such as the continuing aging population and continued economic growth are contributing to this. The impact varies by sector

What strategies are being deployed in the healthcare industry to address shortages?

The healthcare industry is taking various measures, including improving working conditions, offering training opportunities, and using technology to support it. This is how this sector is trying to make work more attractive and retain staff

How do the numbers stand on staff shortages within the hospitality industry?

The hospitality sector is experiencing significant staff shortages, with demand for qualified staff in particular exceeding supply. This has led to problems such as longer working hours for current staff and in some cases even temporary closure of hospitality venues

How is the Dutch government addressing personnel shortages?

The Dutch government is trying to reduce personnel shortages by investing in education and retraining, supporting employment initiatives, and aligning migration policies with labor market needs. This attempts to better match supply and demand