The Netherlands is a booming economy facing a serious shortage of skilled workers, but landing a job from abroad isn’t always straightforward. To better understand which sectors are most in demand and the strategies that actually work, we surveyed 71 people who successfully relocated here for work, and combined their insights with official labour-market data. This is what we found:
The Most In-Demand Sectors
- Technology & IT (55% of successful hires in our survey)
Roles like software developers, data scientists, AI specialists, cybersecurity experts, and cloud/DevOps engineers are in high-demand. According to a recent report there are 26 job openings per tech worker in the Netherlands. - Fintech & Finance (15% of successful hires in our survey)
FinTech talent is also in high demand in the Netherlands. The financial and fintech sectors value professionals in analytics, compliance, risk management, and blockchain development, but also accountants and risk management professionals. - Engineering & Construction (0% of successful hires in our survey)
The rise in construction is fueling a need for qualified engineers in the Netherlands. Electrical, civil, mechanical and process engineering roles are in demand. There is also a high demand for skilled construction workers (plumbers, electricians, welders, etc.), especially in sustainable building / retrofit / energy-efficient construction. - Human Resources (9% of successful hires in our survey)
Although most sources do not mention a high demand in HR specialists, 9% of the sucessful hires in our survey were hired for specialised HR roles, such as Human Resources Change management and HR Technology. Randstad, a large staffing firm in the Netherlands, does list HR advisor as one of their 45 most in-demand jobs in the Netherlands for 2024. - Healthcare (0% of successful hires in our survey)
Qualified healthcare workers are high-demand in the Netherlands and demand is only expected to grow in the coming years, with a deficit of 266,000 workers expected by 2035. Foreign healthcare professionals, however, often face significant barriers before they can practise in the Netherlands. One of the biggest is the requirement to demonstrate Dutch language proficiency at a level that matches the healthcare role before they can register in the BIG register. - Education (0% of successful hires in our survey)
Qualified teachers, childcare workers and other educational workers are also in high-demand in the Netherlands. Foreign nationals generally also face significant barriers, including a high level of Dutch proficiency, before they can teach in the Netherlands. There are a few opportunities, such as English teaching positions at International schools that might not require Dutch, but your qualifications still need to be certified. - Legal (6% of succesful hires in our survey)
- Biotech & Medical Devices (6% of successful hires in our survey)
How to find a job in the Netherlands?
The results are in! This is what we found from the survey responses of 71 people who successfully landed jobs in the Netherlands while still abroad:
Key Findings from the Survey:
- Direct Contact with Companies: Most people (41%) successfully found a job in the Netherlands through direct contact with a company. These can be broken down into:
- 34% applied directly to the company
- 28% were transferred internally
- In 21% of cases the company reached out to them, often via LinkedIn
- 17% were referred by an employee at the company
- Job Boards: 37% of respondents said they found their job via job boards / online postings.
- 82% used LinkedIn
- 14% used Indeed
- Recruiting Agencies: 13% were hired via recruiting agencies
- In 67% of cases the agency reached out to the candidate, often via their LinkedIn profile.
- In 33% of cases they reached out to the recruitment agency
Take-Home Message:
02
Don’t rely only on job listings, reach out directly to companies
Target HR or hiring managers, even if there’s no open role posted.
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Use a multi-pronged approach
Job boards, direct company outreach, networking, and recruitment agencies
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be visible
Online and offline networking often uncover opportunities that are not publicly advertised.
Do you want more personalised support finding a job? Feel free to email us at info@easyarrival.nl. We can provide you with:
- The most relevant Dutch recruitment agencies in your field
- Recommended books and other resources to help you along your way.
Good luck with your job search!
One final tip: Once you have a signed job offer, save and print it. You will need a copy on hand when you arrive in the Netherlands.