The Dutch labor market is changing, but technical professionals remain scarce.
The Dutch labor market is cooling noticeably. Whereas the number of vacancies reached record heights last year, there is now a clear decline. This is especially reflected in the number of vacancies for professions such as copywriter and administrative assistant. A major cause of this is the increasing use of AI. AI continues to develop and is increasingly easy to deploy. For administrative tasks, for example, AI offers automated solutions. And chatbots such as Chat GPT offer text writing capabilities.
However, this trend is not seen everywhere. In healthcare and technology/engineering, the demand for qualified people remains consistently high. These sectors are facing major shortages.
At WFS PRO, we see this in practice every day. Technical companies are still eager for skilled workers, from Design Engineer to CNC Programmer.
The technical industry remains structurally understaffed
According to data from CBS the total number of vacancies in the Netherlands fell by 7,000 in the first quarter of 2025. The nationwide decline in vacancies does little to diminish the huge demand in technical occupations. In many technical sectors, it remains difficult to find suitable people.
From the labor market forecast 2025-2029 from We Technology shows that the technical sector will need more than 121,000 new people over the next five years. Some 118,000 experienced workers are expected to leave the labor market, due to retirement, for example. These 121,000 professionals are needed to absorb both the growth and the outflow. In particular, lateral entrants will be of great importance: 70% of the new professionals must come from this group (Techniek Nederland, 2025).
However, the inflow from technical courses has lagged behind demand for years. At the same time, energy transition, sustainability projects and technological innovations are creating additional demand for specialized personnel. Moreover, because technicians can be widely deployed in a variety of sectors, competition for talent continues to increase.
What's next? Invest in recruitment and look ahead
It is crucial for employers to realize that the labor market for technical staff is still under pressure. National figures say little about the reality in the high-tech and manufacturing industries. The pond is small, the competition fierce.
Therefore, do not wait, but take the initiative. Consider:
- (Obsolete) Job Profiles under review;
- Employing (international) technicians through a specialist like WFS PRO;
- And investing structurally in training & internal advancement.
We like to think along, from the strategic recruitment plan to onboarding. We also support in setting up training programs.
Are you a technical professional looking for your next opportunity?
For technical talent, this is the time to showcase themselves. Companies are critical, but good professionals stand out immediately. Do you have the right skills, experience or motivation to work in an innovative environment? Then chances are that more is possible than you think.
At WFS PRO, we guide technicians every day to great challenges that really suit them. We help you through the application process, onboarding and beyond. Whether you're just out of school, ready for something new or already have years of experience, we'll look for a challenge that matches your ambitions.
