Business services push up jobs

Companies in the business services sector expect a further growth in their workforce in the fourth quarter of 2006. The business services sector accounts for one eighth of all jobs in the Netherlands and plays an important role in the development of employment.

One quarter of vacancies

At the end of the third quarter of 2006, there were 51 thousand unfilled job vacancies in the business services sector. This is the equivalent of just over one quarter of all vacancies in the Netherlands. Expected changes in workforce numbers give a first indication of developments in the coming period.
Changes that business services companies expect to have to make in staff  numbers show a strong correlation with the number of vacancies in this sector. Companies expect the workforce to increase further in the fourth quarter. The number of vacancies will therefore also probably remain high in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Expected staff numbers and vacancies

Sensitive to the economy

Business services is one of the leading sectors in the recovery of employment. In a period of economic growth many new jobs are created. This is apparent from the large number of unfilled vacancies in this sector. These vacancies have risen more quickly in the last three years than the total number of vacancies in the Netherlands. Conversely, in periods of economic recession jobs in business services fall faster than in other sectors of industry. This shows that the sector is an important component in monitoring changes on the total labour market.

Number of vacancies

Arjan Neef