On average 42% of IT candidates are in the Amsterdam region. Utrecht follows with 18%, Rotterdam with 14%. The rest of the Netherlands accounts for 26%. That is the finding of an IPMERC analysis from August 2026, based on process data from recruitment agencies. Amsterdam leads in almost every IT field. Per field, though, the map looks different.
Each region has its own profile
In Utrecht, 24% of the IT market is Data, against 11% nationally. Cloud is big everywhere, but biggest in Rotterdam: 36% of the market, against 31% in Amsterdam, 28% in Utrecht and 29% in the rest of the country. Architecture is proportionally largest in Amsterdam (9%) and smallest in Rotterdam (5%). Java is evenly spread, around 7% in every region.
Embedded is the exception. Outside the three large regions it is 4% of the market, in Amsterdam 1.5%. So embedded developers are more often found outside the three large regions.
What it means for your vacancy
An IT vacancy outside Amsterdam competes for a smaller group of candidates. That need not be a drawback if you know which field is strong in your region. A data engineer is relatively easy to find in Utrecht. An embedded developer in Amsterdam is scarce.
What you can do
- Determine per vacancy in which region the field is strong, and set travel distance and remote work policy accordingly.
- If you hire outside Amsterdam for a field concentrated there, expect more remote days or a higher salary.
- If your region is strong in your field, use that in the job ad.
Source: IPMERC, Amsterdam dominates every IT market except Embedded and PHP (August 2026).
Pearson & Partners locates and qualifies IT specialists in every region of the Netherlands.