The Netherlands Has a Worker Problem: The Workforce Is No Longer Growing
The Netherlands has spent years dealing with staff shortages, but there is a bigger long-term problem behind them: the working population cannot simply keep growing forever.
Recent labour-market figures show that the number of people working in the Netherlands has become relatively stable at around 9.6 million.
At the same time, the population is ageing. More people are reaching retirement age, while there are not enough younger workers entering the labour market to maintain the kind of workforce growth seen in previous years.
Why Does an Ageing Population Matter?
When experienced employees retire, employers need people to replace them.
That sounds straightforward, but if fewer new workers are available, shortages can remain even when economic growth is relatively modest.
This is particularly important in sectors that already struggle to recruit enough people.
An ageing population can therefore create opportunities for job seekers, including international workers, but it also creates challenges for employers and the Dutch economy.
Unemployment Is Also Slowly Increasing
Interestingly, worker shortages and unemployment can exist at the same time.
The number of unemployed people in the Netherlands has gradually increased since 2023 and reached 408,000 in August 2026.
This happens partly because employers aren't simply looking for “a worker”. They are often looking for someone with a particular qualification, experience, language ability or technical skill.
Someone looking for an administrative position cannot automatically fill a vacancy for an electrician, nurse or engineer.
This mismatch between the people looking for work and the skills employers need is one reason labour shortages can continue even while unemployment increases.
What Does This Mean for International Workers?
For people considering working in the Netherlands, the long-term situation remains interesting.
There will continue to be demand for workers, but opportunities won't necessarily be equally strong everywhere.
Having a recognised qualification, technical skills, professional experience or Dutch-language ability can put you in a much stronger position.
Rather than simply asking whether there are jobs in the Netherlands, ask a more useful question: Where are workers with my skills actually needed?
That will give you a much better picture of your opportunities.
Source: CBS / NL Times, September 2026.