Unemployment in the Netherlands is low – 3.9% in 2025 (EU: 6.0%) – and 83.4% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%). The minimum wage is €14.99 an hour from 1 July 2026 for workers aged 21+, with lower youth rates. Register with your municipality within 5 days to get your BSN, and take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months.
According to EURES labour market information, the Netherlands has persistent staff shortages in care, education, the public sector, ICT and technology. Occupations in short supply include:
Many IT and other specialists are employed by secondment agencies (detacheringsbureaus), which hire staff on contract and place them with client companies.
For graduates, the best chances are in ICT, engineering, healthcare and education – fields where employers struggle to find enough people.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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