Most large companies have few foreign staff

In 2000 nearly half of all companies in the Netherlands had less than 5 percent employees with a foreign background.

The percentage of foreign employees for all companies was 9.3, up from 8.8 percent in 1999.

Companies by percentage of foreign employees

Fewer companies with a small percentage of foreigners

The number of companies with less than 5 percent foreign employees has fallen. In 1999 58 percent of companies had less than 5 percent foreign workers, one year later this was 55 percent. The decrease was strongest among large companies.

Small companies

Small companies are more likely to have a small percentage of foreign employees. Three out of five companies with 35 to 50 employees employ less than 5 percent foreign people. For companies with more than 1,000 employees this is two out of five.

Percentage of companies with less than 5 percent foreign employees by size of company, 2000

Few foreigners in government and education

The percentage of companies with few foreign employees differs strongly between sectors of industry. Eighty-five percent of organisations in the government sector employ less than 5 percent, as do more than three-quarters of companies in construction, energy and mineral extraction and educational institutions. Within education, the highest percentages of schools with few foreign staff are in primary and special education.

In corporate services 39 percent of companies have less than 5 percent foreign employees. In this sector, many foreigners are employed by cleaning firms and temp agencies.

Percentage of companies with less than 5 percent foreign employees by economic activity, 2000

Foreign employees account for more than 5 percent of staff in more than half of financial institutions, manufacturing companies and corporate services.

Leo van Toor and Rik van der Vliet

Source: Sociaal Statistisch Bestand