In 2024, the Netherlands will experience an acute shortage of highly skilled professionals, with the largest number of vacancies available in the country in the healthcare, finance, industry and IT sectors. Find out what a foreigner needs to be employed in the Netherlands in 2024

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The labor market of the Netherlands is currently experiencing an acute shortage of workers, especially highly qualified personnel. To address this issue, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) now allows employers to hire qualified foreigners for any position. Such conditions make the country attractive for expats, and especially for citizens of Nepal, Kenya, Australia and Uganda. We talk about the most popular vacancies and requirements for employment in the country in 2024 in our material.

The labor market in the Netherlands

The Netherlands boasts a fairly stable economy with a lot of foreign investment, which is facilitated by favorable tax conditions. Thanks to this, many multinational corporations work in the country. Important market players are Dutch international companies, among them ING Group, Royal Dutch Shell Group, Unilever, Philips and Heineken.

Unemployment rates in the Netherlands are among the lowest in the European Union at 3.5%, compared to the European average of 6%.

In which sectors do expats work in the Netherlands?

In 2024, the most expat jobs available in the Netherlands are in technology, construction, hospitality, transport, logistics, finance, healthcare, engineering and customer service.

Some of the highest paying jobs in the Dutch job market are sales and marketing, finance, human resources, healthcare and science.

Work culture in the Netherlands

The Dutch usually work 36-40 hours a week. Working hours are usually from 09:00 to 17:00. However, overtime and shift work are also common. With the exception of hospitality and management employees, this category of people should not work overtime.

Also, the labor legislation of the country protects the rights of employees in matters of vacations and dismissal procedures. Your contract should provide full information about your employment, including the length of the contract, employee rights and working conditions.

Salary level in the Netherlands

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, the average salary in the Netherlands is 47,930 euros per year. The Dutch minimum wage depends on age and is revised every two years. The current monthly minimum wage for people over the age of 20 is 1,756.20 euros.

The sectors with the highest annual salaries are banking, the legal sector, chemicals, oil and energy.

The best cities in the Netherlands for expats

Most expats moving to the Netherlands settle in one of the following cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Groningen, Breda, Tilburg, Nijmegen and Almere.

Citizens of which countries need a visa to work in the Netherlands?

 If you are from the EU or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), you can live and work freely in the Netherlands without the need for a work visa or residence permit. However, you will need to register with the Dutch authorities.

If you are from elsewhere, your employer will usually need a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) and you must also have a residence permit.

In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

The most popular types of work visas in the Netherlands

There are two main types of work visas for foreigners to work in the Netherlands:

1. For highly qualified professionals – for people who have special skills needed in the Netherlands. To be employed, you must have an employment contract with a Dutch employer. The main condition is the achievement of an appropriate salary level.

2. For graduates (tentative annual visa): If you have finished your studies, this visa gives you a year to find a job in the Netherlands.

Sectors of the Dutch economy experiencing an acute shortage of specialists

1. IT sector

If you have experience in any of the following occupations, you may find ample opportunities in the Dutch labor market:

- Software developers: especially those with skills in back-end, front-end, full-stack, mobile application development and cloud computing.

- Data Analysts and Scientists: Professionals in data warehousing, business intelligence, machine learning, artificial intelligence and data visualization are in high demand.

- Cyber ​​Security Professionals: Looking for those who specialize in network security, information security, penetration testing, incident response and cloud security.

- IT Project Managers: experience managing software development and IT infrastructure projects, particularly with Agile methodologies, is valuable.

2. Healthcare sector

The healthcare sector in the Netherlands is currently in high demand for professionals, with competitive salaries being a significant advantage. The positions of nurses are especially popular, where in some hospitals the salary ranges from 4,000 euros to 8,000 euros per month. However, the sector is also looking for other skilled professionals, including doctors, specialists and medical technicians, reflecting a wider need in the healthcare system.

3. The sphere of finance

In the Netherlands, there is a strong need for financial analysts and accounting specialists related to artificial intelligence.

4. Employees of the mechanical engineering sector

 Tax and social security numbers in the Netherlands

Before starting your job, you will need a citizen service number (burgerservicenummer – BSN). This is a personal tax number and social security number that is required for almost any official business in the Netherlands, including opening a bank account. You should apply for this at the local town hall soon after arriving in the country.

Where can an expat look for a job in the Netherlands?

Most expats look for a job in the Netherlands on one of the following portals:

- If you are from the EU/EFTA region, you can find a job in the Netherlands on the EURES (European Employment Service) website. EURES is a network of job portals supported by the European Commission and designed to facilitate free movement within the EU.

- Job sites: Glassdoor, Good Company, Intermédiair, LinkedIn jobs, National Vacature Bank (in Dutch), Stepstone, Vacaturevia (in Dutch), We know people. 

The Netherlands is a European country with one of the strongest economies in the world. Working here will give you good career prospects, life in a country with a high level of social development and a rich culture.

We will remind you! Amsterdam is considered by many to be one of the best places to live as an expat in Europe, as it offers a cosmopolitan spirit, a rich cultural life and a large international community. We've already talked about the pros and cons of moving here and what you should know about living in the city before packing your bags.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents for Netherlands;

Legal advice on immigration to Netherlands;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Netherlands;

Medical insurance all over the world.