33% of Dutch employers expect to hire more people than they let go in the fourth quarter. That is 10 points more than in the third quarter and 5 more than a year earlier, according to ManpowerGroup's Employment Outlook Survey of 513 employers. Worldwide the net employment outlook is 29%, in Europe and the Middle East 22%. The Netherlands sits well above both.
Where the growth is
Energy and utilities expect the most: 50%. Production follows at 45%, 11 points up on a year earlier, and hospitality at 37%. Business, scientific and technical services showed the biggest rise, 22 points on a year earlier.
More unemployed at the same time
Unemployment rose to 4.0% in September, 408,000 people, CBS reports. Over the last three months it grew by 5,000 a month on average. In the second quarter there were 95 vacancies for every 100 unemployed.
That looks contradictory, but it fits. Employers hire in specific sectors and roles, while people lose their jobs elsewhere. An unemployed person does not automatically fit a vacancy in another sector or trade.
Starters
46% of employers want to hire more starters, 25% fewer. Those hiring fewer starters rank AI only seventh as a reason.
What you can do
- Assume your competitor is hiring too. In production, energy and technical services a large share of employers expect to grow.
- Look at candidates who become available through a reorganisation. Higher unemployment also means more experienced people open to a conversation.
- Start now for the first quarter. After New Year many more employers open vacancies at once.
Sources: ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey Netherlands, Q4 2026; CBS, 408 thousand unemployed in September, 15 October 2026 (in Dutch).
Pearson & Partners locates and qualifies candidates in the sectors where employers are growing now.