Number of Job Vacancies in the Netherlands on the Rise

16.06.2022

More than 450,000 Opportunities Available for Job Seekers

Students and professionals looking for work in the Netherlands might find opportunities in multiple sectors, as the number of job vacancies in the country is on the rise, having reached 451,000 at the end of March, according to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Data shows that in the first quarter of 2022 there were 133 job vacancies for every 100 unemployed people, up from 106 opportunities per 100 unemployed workers in the last quarter of 2021.

In the same period, the country reached the lowest unemployment rate in 20 years at just 3.5%, corresponding to approximately 9 million people currently employed, while businesses are struggling to fill vacancies. Therefore, job applicants can take the opportunity to negotiate for higher salaries or more advantageous contracts. For students, in particular, this means that businesses might be open to more flexible arrangements, such as part-time positions and internships.

Accounting together for 225,000 vacancies – nearly half of all jobs on offer – the three sectors facing the most significant staff shortages are trade (90,000), business services (74,000) and healthcare (61,000). Another industry where the number of opportunities has significantly risen following the COVID-19 pandemic is the hospitality sector, with vacancies going from 30,000 in December to 44,000 in March. Because the Dutch tourism and hospitality industry is recovering from the impacts of the pandemic, the number of vacancies is likely to keep increasing.

Apart from the reopening of the economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdowns as well as other restrictive measures, the rise in the number of jobs is also connected to the record low level of bankruptcies. In April, only 109 Dutch companies went out of business.

In light of the current situation, the government expects the number of vacancies to go on increasing in the second half of 2022. Therefore, students looking for jobs have good reason to be on the watch for opportunities while strengthening their networks and keeping updated CVs!