According to data from the Dutch state jobs agency UWV (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemersverzekeringen), 20,172 work permits were granted to labour migrants and working students from countries outside of the EU in 2024, excluding highly skilled workers.

This 12 percent increase is a significant rise for non-EU nationals compared to 2013, indicating a growing need for foreign workers to sustain the Dutch economy.

However, these figures do not account for foreigners working in the Netherlands on highly skilled migrant visas for at least three months, as permits for this group are issued by the IND.

For low-skilled jobs, Dutch companies must secure permits from the UWV to hire employees from outside the EU. The increase in permits granted by UWV has raised concerns about exacerbating labour shortages in the country.

Quadruple increase in work permits for asylum seekers

In 2024, the UWV issued 9,281 work permits to asylum seekers, which is four times the number issued in 2023.

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This surge followed the removal of a restriction at the end of 2023 that previously allowed asylum seekers to work only 24 weeks per year. The lifting of this restriction has led to a significant increase in asylum seekers expressing interest in working more hours, primarily in the hospitality and agricultural sectors.

Tight labour market expected to persist

Leontine Treur, a labour market specialist at Rabobank, commented on the current situation, stating that the Netherlands’ labour market is expected to remain tight in the coming years.

According to Treur, this continued tightness will keep the demand for labour migrants high.

“We have a tight labour market, and that will remain so in the coming years. This keeps the demand for labour migrants high,” said Treur.

She also emphasised that the Netherlands has a low unemployment rate, meaning that only a small number of domestic workers can fill vacancies, necessitating the employment of foreign workers to address the shortfall.

Ngozi Ekugo is a Snr. Correspondent/ analyst at Businessday. She has worked across various sectors, and notably had a brief stinct at Goldman Sachs, London. She holds an MSc Management from the University Hertfordshire, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Lagos and is an alumna of Queen’s college. She is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM).

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