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Labour market activity
Labour market activity indicates the size of the active labour supply within the Dutch working population (excluding self-employed persons and entrepreneurs). These are people who are currently actively looking for (other) work. In addition, there is a large group of latent job seekers. They are not actively looking for other work, but are keeping an eye on the labour market.
1,09 mln
t.o.v. Q3 2024
-100.000
t.o.v. Q2 2025
-30.000
Job changes
This figure shows what proportion of the Dutch working population (excluding self-employed persons and entrepreneurs) has found different/new work in the past 12 months. It provides insight into the dynamics of the labour market. The figures relate to people who have found a job with a new employer. Internal job changes are not included.
1,66 mln
t.o.v. Q3 2024
-139.000
t.o.v. Q2 2025
-40.000
Sourcing pressure
Sourcing pressure indicates the proportion of the Dutch working population (excluding self-employed persons and entrepreneurs) who are approached by recruiters, employers and/or agencies for a new job at least once a quarter. Sourcing pressure is related to labour market scarcity. The more sought-after (scarce) people are, the more often they are approached.
42,0%
Q3 2024
41,4%
Q2 2025
42,3%
Unemployment
The unemployed labour force consists of all 15 to 75-year-olds living in the Netherlands who do not have paid work, but who have recently looked for work and are immediately available for work. The figures are adjusted for seasonal influences and presented in thousands.
401.000
2024 augustus
374.000
2025 juli
388.000
Finding and keeping work
The index indicates how easy or difficult it is to find and/or keep work. The higher the value above 100, the easier it is, and vice versa. The index is composed of three indicators that describe the flows between employment positions. These indicators always refer to the change compared to the situation three months earlier. The three indicators are, in order: 1) The proportion of employed persons who have become unemployed (employed -> unemployed). 2) The proportion of unemployed persons who have found work (unemployed -> employed). 3) The number of persons who find a job directly from a non-working situation (non-working population -> employed) compared to the number of persons who are looking for work from a non-working situation and are immediately available for work but have not yet found a job (non-working population -> unemployed).
Fairly easy
Recruitment feasibility
Recruitment feasibility is a score between 0 and 10, based on the ratio of demand (vacancies) to supply (proportion of active job seekers, see labour market activity) in the labour market. The greater the demand relative to supply, the higher the score. This implies greater scarcity, making it more difficult to recruit staff. In a tight labour market, demand is (much) greater than supply. In a loose labour market, the opposite is true. The recruitment feasibility score then falls below 5.
Difficult
Expected search duration
The expected search duration for a job is based on the period that people themselves indicate they need to find new work. It can be seen as an indicator of employee confidence in the labour market. The duration of the application process, the ease of finding work and people’s focus, motivation and commitment all influence the actual search duration.
3.1 months
Q3 2024
3,1
Q2 2025
3,1
Job seekers with permanent contracts
The graph shows the proportion of people who found different/new work in the past 12 months (see Job changes) and who were immediately given a permanent contract.
45,5%
Q3 2024
46,5%
Q2 2025
44,5%
Vacancies per quarter
The graph shows the development of the number of new/created vacancies per quarter. The figures have not been adjusted for seasonal influences. The forecast of the number of vacancies is based on entrepreneurs’ assessments of their own companies and the economy/labour market. More specifically, it concerns their assessment of production capacity and the extent to which entrepreneurs experience obstacles due to insufficient demand and/or a shortage of personnel. These data are taken from the CBS economic survey. Labour market flows are also an important factor. These include the proportion of unemployed people who find work, the proportion of employed people who become unemployed, and the extent to which new entrants to the labour market find work quickly. All these variables together appear to be a good indicator of short-term vacancy trends.
2025Q3 vs 2024Q3
+28 dzd
2025Q4 vs 2024Q4
+4 dzd
Vacancies
The figures relate to the number of vacancies created/new vacancies and are presented in thousands. The forecast model shows the expected development for the coming years. Input for the forecast includes estimates by the CPB and the UWV on the economy and the labour market.
1.43 million
2025 (progn.)
1,49 mln
2026 (progn.)
1,48 mln
Labour shortage
The percentage of entrepreneurs who indicate that a labour shortage is hampering their activities. The percentage relates to the business sector as a whole (excluding financial institutions and public utilities).
36,3%
Q3 2024
36,9%
Q2 2025
33,9%
Labour productivity
The growth/increase in labour productivity is the engine of long-term economic growth. Furthermore, growth in labour productivity can alleviate labour market shortages. With regard to the data, actual figures are sourced from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Quarterly figures are calculated by Intelligence Group on the basis of sectoral data on added value and labour volume (both adjusted for seasonal influences). In addition to the actual figures, the graph also shows the CPB’s estimates for the coming years. The growth figures are based on the (volume) development compared to the same period in the previous year. The figures relate to the commercial sector, i.e. all sectors (A-U), with the exception of real estate rental and trading (L), public administration (O) and education (P).
gem. 2004-2014
1,0%
gem. 2014-2024
0,6%
prog. t/m 2029
1,1%
Inflation and wages
The graph shows the average price development of goods and services purchased by consumers (inflation). The change relates to the development of prices compared to the same period in the previous year. The development of collective agreement wages is also shown. These are collective agreement wages (per hour) including special payments (such as holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, one-off payments and health insurance contributions). In addition, the development of the average salary mentioned in (online) job vacancies is shown.
Inflation (Sep-Sep)
3,3%
Collective agreement wages (Sep-Sep)
4,7%
Rates for independent professionals
The graph shows the development of the average hourly rates for independent professionals per quarter. In addition to the average, the range is also shown. This consists of the 20th and 80th percentiles, i.e. the lowest and highest 20 per cent of rates respectively. The rate data comes from various sources (HeadfFirst Group, Planet Interim and Sentior) and relates to the rates mentioned in assignments for independent professionals (self-employed professionals, seconded employees and interim professionals). Each quarter, the data is based on approximately 9,000 assignments. The rate data has been analysed by Intelligence Group. In addition, where possible, the data has been weighted according to population size based on CBS data. This is because some professional groups/fields are under- or over-represented. It is important to note that the data mainly relates to assignments for people with theoretical/higher education (HBO+). Rates for those with practical training (construction, logistics, production, care) are only represented to a limited extent in the data.
€ 92
t.o.v. 2024Q2
2,6%
t.o.v. 2025Q1
-2,2%
Economic growth
The graph shows economic growth (GDP growth) per quarter. This is year-on-year growth, i.e. growth compared to the same quarter in the previous year. The forecast is based on the development of a number of confidence and sentiment indicators.
Prognose 2025 vs. 2024
+1,7%
The model is based on a number of confidence and sentiment indicators, see also the graphs below. For the forecast for the coming quarters, the weighted average trend for each of the indicators over the past 24, 12 and 6 months respectively was examined (with greater weight being given to the recent past). The indicators used appear to be good predictors of economic growth, apart from the exceptional coronavirus period with very large downward and upward swings. The forecast for the current year takes into account the growth already achieved in previous quarters.
Consumer confidence
Consumer confidence is an indicator that provides information about consumers’ confidence and opinions regarding developments in the Dutch economy and their own financial situation. The more optimistic or pessimistic consumers are, the more the value of consumer confidence will deviate positively or negatively from the zero line. The graph shows total consumer confidence and, specifically, confidence in the economic situation over the next 12 months.
-32
Manufacturer confidence
Producer confidence is a sentiment indicator among entrepreneurs in industry that indicates the direction in which industrial production is expected to develop. The more optimistic or pessimistic entrepreneurs are, the more the value of producer confidence will deviate positively or negatively from zero and the greater the expectation that production will increase or decrease in the coming months.
-1,6
Temporary employment hours
The graph shows the percentage increase/decrease in the number of temporary employment hours compared to the same period last year. Temporary employment hours are not reported in months, but in four-week periods, resulting in thirteen periods per year.
-4,0%
Stock market price (AEX)
The AEX Index is the most important Dutch stock market index. The index reflects the price development of the 25 shares with the largest market capitalisation on the Amsterdam stock exchange. The AEX is calculated from the weighted average of the prices of these shares. The graph shows the average price per month.
916,5
PMI
The index reflects the confidence that purchasing managers have in the economy. The greater the deviation of the PMI from 50, the greater the degree of change in the economy. A PMI above 50 indicates an upward trend, a positive economic outlook. A PMI below 50 indicates a downward trend, a negative market sentiment.
53,7
House prices
The graph shows the price development of existing owner-occupied homes in the Netherlands. It concerns the percentage development of sales prices compared to the same period in the previous year. The price indices for existing owner-occupied homes are provided by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and are based on a comprehensive registration of home sales transactions by the Land Registry and WOZ values of all homes in the Netherlands.
7,9%
Bankruptcies
The graph shows the number of bankruptcies declared by courts in the Netherlands. The results have been adjusted for the number of court sitting days (a calendar month can contain four or five sitting days). The tooltip also includes the bankruptcy rate. This refers to the number of bankruptcies per 100,000 companies. The number of companies fluctuates over time (mainly increasing) and, regardless of other effects/influences, the absolute number of bankruptcies also changes over time.
334
The labor market is becoming less dynamic. More and more employees seem to be adopting a wait-and-see attitude, probably prompted by increasing uncertainty surrounding geopolitical tensions, trade wars, inflation, and low confidence. Fewer people are changing jobs, and the number of people actively looking for (other) work is also falling. At the same time, unemployment is rising slightly, although this is mainly because more people who were previously inactive are now entering the labor market—not because workers are losing their jobs en masse. Nevertheless, the chances of securing a permanent contract remain high, the expected job search duration is short, and sourcing pressure is high. The labor market therefore remains tense.
Unemployment has risen slightly in recent months (3.9% in August 2025). For the first time in a long time, the number of unemployed people rose above 400,000 again. However, with the total working population increasing, the relative increase is still limited and unemployment remains very low for the time being. With unemployment on the rise, finding and/or keeping a job has become somewhat more difficult. This is mainly because new entrants to the labour market are finding it somewhat more difficult to find work.
Labour market activity, the proportion of people actively seeking (other) work, stood at 12.3% in the third quarter. Another decline, both compared to the previous quarter (12.7%) and compared to a year ago (13.5%). The upward trend of recent years has clearly reversed in 2025. The lower the labour market activity, the more difficult it is for employers to recruit staff. If people are less inclined to look for a job on their own initiative, employers will have to focus more on the latent group. However, that group is also shrinking. At 43.8%, this is significantly higher than the number of active job seekers, but the percentage has not been this low since the summer of 2017. As a result, the group that is not looking for (other) work at all is actually growing. Accounting for 44.0% in the third quarter. The Intelligence Group’s surveys had never before shown such a high percentage. People may be adopting a more wait-and-see attitude due to increased uncertainty as a result of geopolitical unrest, the trade war, persistently high inflation and low (consumer) confidence.
The downward trend in the number of job changes continued in the third quarter. Fewer people found new or different jobs. The percentage fell to 18.6%. The lowest share in nearly four years. Incidentally, this does not only concern people who change jobs, although this is the largest group within the 1.7 million job changers. Those who have found employment after being unemployed are also included in the figures. Labour mobility is related to the number of job vacancies. The more people change jobs, the greater the number of vacancies to replace departing staff. At the same time, employees are more inclined to change jobs in a favourable labour market, i.e. when the number of vacancies is high.
In the third quarter, 45.5% of job seekers indicated that they were immediately offered a permanent contract. In the previous three quarters, there was a (slight) decline, but this quarter the share actually increased again. The highest percentage (46.5%) was achieved in the third quarter of 2024. The current share remains high and is well above the average for the past ten years (38.2%). The figures are consistent with the picture of a tight labour market.
The sourcing pressure, the extent to which people are approached for a (new) job, fell slightly in the third quarter. The proportion of people who are contacted at least once a quarter was 42.0%, compared to 42.3% in the previous quarter. Since mid-2023, the picture has been fairly stable, whereas in the period before that there was a clear upward trend. If we look at the average number of times people are approached annually, at 8.5 this is relatively high, but it is the lowest figure in the last three years. At its peak, in the third quarter of 2023, this averaged 9.4 times per year. Over the past ten years, the average was 6.8 times per year. The sourcing pressure is an important indicator of scarcity in the Dutch labour market.
The expected time spent searching for a new job has remained stable at 3.1 months for a long time. Since 2013, apart from the coronavirus years, there had been a downward trend, but this seems to have stopped since the fourth quarter of 2023. The expected search duration is based on the period that people themselves indicate they need to find new work. It can be seen as an indicator of employee confidence in the labour market. At 3.1 months, the expected search duration is still very low compared to all data since measurements began in 2011.
Die Indikatoren auf dieser Website werden regelmäßig aktualisiert. Die Zahlen, die auf unserer eigenen internationalen Arbeitsmarktforschung (ITAM) basieren, werden vierteljährlich aktualisiert. Die anderen Indikatoren und Modelle auf dieser Seite werden monatlich aktualisiert.
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