Labour market

The Netherlands features one of the most highly educated, flexible and motivated workforces in Europe. Dutch professionals are also among the most multilingual in the world, enabling them to successfully operate in companies across any industry and serving customers throughout the continent.
Quality of the workforce
The most important long-term asset of any business is the quality of its personnel. With its high-quality labour market, the Netherlands meets this requirement of international companies perhaps better than any other country. The Netherlands offers employers flexibility and excellent working attitudes.
Since the early 1980s, growth in wage costs in the Netherlands has been kept to moderate levels through successful policies of wage restraint and productivity improvements.
Premiums for benefits such as social security and pensions are compulsory and are paid for by both employee and employer. Good labour relations and an efficient regulatory framework allow the private sector to reap the maximum benefits the Dutch labour force has to offer.
Flexible working environment
The Dutch regulatory framework makes it possible for companies in the Netherlands to achieve flexibility in their labour policies thanks to a variety of instruments. These include the use of different types of labour contracts. Given high employment in the service sector, the Netherlands has the highest percentage of people working as temporary employees in Europe. This gives employers the opportunity to screen potential long-term employees within the work environment while they are on a flexible contract. Another trend is towards job pools, where several organizations share the same employees whether in services or manufacturing. This type of creative solution also adds to labour flexibility. Dutch regulations regarding working conditions cover working hours, working conditions, and the health and well being of employees. Furthermore, having signed the EU Social Charter, the country is committed to maintaining an ideal working environment for all employees, and this, in turn, has had a positive impact on labour productivity.

Find out more about Labour Flexibility & Recruitment