Three time as many "difficult" job vacancies

The number of job vacancies in the Netherlands nearly doubled between September 2004 and September 2006, to 200 thousand. The number of vacancies for which it is difficult to find candidates even tripled in this period.

Vacancies, 30 September

One in three vacancies difficult to fill

At the end of September 2006, employers found it difficult to find candidates for over 63 job vacancies. This is one third of all vacancies.  
This proportion is still well below the level in the years 2000-2001, the previous period of strong economic growth. At that time half the vacancies were difficult to fill.

Half of vacancies in construction difficult to fill

The construction industry had the highest rate of “difficult” vacancies: 47 percent. These were mostly vacancies for intermediate level technical occupations. The construction industry was followed by manufacturing, where 44 percent of vacancies were difficult to fill. In business services, the sector with most job vacancies in 2006, employers could find staff only with difficulty for just over one third of vacancies. In public administration and the hotel and restaurant sector, it was easier to find staff.

Vacancies by sector of industry, 30 September 2006

School-leavers fill mainly low-skilled vacancies

According to employers, nearly one in five vacancies were suitable for school- leavers. Whether a job can de done by a school-leaver depends on the level of skills required. Vacancies for elementary level occupations (51 percent) and low-skilled occupations (29 percent) were open to school-leavers in 2006. Less than 10 percent of intermediate, higher and scientific level vacancies were suitable for people who had just left school.

Vacancies suitable for school-leavers, 30 September 2006

Jeremy Weidum