A record 1,6 million new job vacancies were listed in the Netherlands in 2022, new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) show - the highest number in over two decades. 

1,6 million new vacancies created in the Netherlands in 2022

A record-breaking 1,6 million vacancies for new jobs in the Netherlands were listed during 2022, according to the figures from CBS. As NL Times reports, that’s 143.000 more than in 2021, and the highest number recorded since CBS began tracking this figure in 1997. 

Many of the vacancies were filled during the course of the year or withdrawn. By the end of 2022, there were 437.000 open vacancies, significantly more than the 392.000 posted at the end of 2021. 

Dutch labour market remains tight

“Demand for new employees was particularly high in business economics and administrative professions,” CBS said in a statement. In these sectors, 291.000 new vacancies opened last year, 51.000 more than the year before. High numbers of new vacancies were also recorded in the trade, service (particularly hospitality) and commercial professions, and in the Dutch healthcare system.  

The new figures show that Dutch employers, recruitment agencies and international companies based in the Netherlands are still having to fight to fill their vacancies, with there being far more open positions than workers available to fill them.