Finding Your First Job in the Netherlands Is Becoming More Difficult
Young people and people looking for their first professional job may be noticing that the Dutch job market is not quite as easy as it was a few years ago.
Demand for junior and entry-level employees has fallen faster than demand for more experienced workers.
According to figures from staffing company Randstad reported by NL Times, the number of vacancies for entry-level positions is now more than 30% below the level recorded in 2022, when shortages in the Dutch labour market were particularly severe.
Why Are Junior Vacancies Falling?
Artificial intelligence is often blamed for the disappearance of junior positions, especially in office and technology jobs. However, Randstad argues that the situation is more complicated.
A cooling labour market often affects younger and less experienced workers first. When companies become more cautious about hiring, experienced employees may be considered a safer choice because they require less training.
AI and automation may still be having an effect in certain areas. The decline in junior demand has been particularly noticeable in IT and administrative work, where AI tools are increasingly being introduced.
But it would be too simple to say that AI is responsible for the entire decline.
What Should Young Job Seekers Do?
If you're looking for your first job in the Netherlands, don't be discouraged by vacancy descriptions asking for experience you don't yet have.
Internships, temporary work, traineeships and junior positions can all help you get your first Dutch work experience. It can also be useful to apply when you meet most, but not necessarily every, requirement in a vacancy.
Your CV should focus on what you can already offer. Education, internships, volunteering, projects, language skills and part-time work can all demonstrate useful skills.
Learning Dutch can also increase your options. English may be enough for many international jobs, but speaking Dutch gives you access to a much larger part of the labour market.
The Dutch job market still offers opportunities. However, people starting their careers may now need to search more actively and be more flexible than they did during the exceptionally tight labour market of a few years ago.
Source: NL Times / Randstad, September 2026.