Which jobs are in high demand in the Netherlands 2022? (2024)

Are you looking for a job in theNetherlands? The Netherlands is one of the best places to work inEurope. Many expats, especially from the UK and the US, are lookingto advance their careers by working as international experts in thelargest Dutch cities.
Salaries in the Netherlands are slightlylower than in the countries mentioned above, but you can still make acareer and enjoy a high standard of living.

The Netherlands has the largest numberof job openings in these occupations:

• engineering
• health andpublic service
• financial services
• IT
• projectmanagement
• research
• hospitality
• construction
• education
• science& research

The most in-demand jobs inthe Netherlands in 2022 are divided into different categoriesdepending on the level of education you need for that position.

High demand jobs withoutspecific education
For these jobs in the Netherlands, you do notneed a specific level of education, however, some certificates may berequired. Usually, people who have completed elementary or highschool work in such jobs.

• cleaning jobs
• truckdrivers
• loaders and unloaders
• trainers and sportsinstructors
• packers

If you are interested in less qualified positions, you may see them here.

Jobs with an intermediatelevel of education
For these jobs applicants must complete atleast one vocational education. The education should correspond toone of the Dutch degrees such as HAVO/VWO, MBO-2, MBO-3, or MBO-4.

• mechanics of industrialmachines or agricultural machines
• sales man
• carpenters
• painters
• plumbers
• sales associates
• electricalequipment installers

Jobs in demand with auniversity degree
The best opportunities in the Netherlands arefor candidates with a high university degree. Most expats andforeigners living in the Netherlands usually have a universitydegree, as this is also the main requirement for a Dutch residencepermit to work.

• software developers
• medics
• advertising and marketingspecialists
• business and organizationalanalysts
• representatives
• leadership positionsin IT and communication technology

Engineers will always survive

Like itsneighbor Germany, the Netherlands has a long tradition of high-techengineering, innovation and science.

A survey by a globaltalent agency found that the Netherlands has the second highestdemand for engineers in the world, with about 13% of all engineeringjob postings. Whether you are a project engineer, mechanical engineeror technical engineer, your profession is in demand.

If youare a hydraulic engineer, the Netherlands is certainly the rightplace for you to look for jobs. The Netherlands has a long traditionin flood control, dredging, and river engineering, and has become amajor player in climate-adaptive construction, which allows for theconstruction of homes in flood-prone areas.

With a strongposition in renewable energy, energy efficiency and a leadingposition in offshore wind energy, biomass processing and greenhousecultivation, the Dutch have set themselves some ambitiouschallenges.

They have committed to creating a reliable,sustainable, and affordable energy system that generates 40% of itselectricity from sustainable sources by 2050. As a result, theNetherlands is investing heavily in innovation, design, andpublic-private partnerships.

ICT specialists always on demand

TheNetherlands has a knowledge-based economy with a strong focus onhigh-tech industries, technological and social innovation, and highlabour productivity. Well-trained specialists in information andcommunications technology (ICT) are currently in high demand. Thenumber of jobs to be filled each year will rise to 37,000 by 2020,representing growth of 1.2%. This sector is one of the fastestgrowing sectors in the Netherlands.

Employees from the entirespectrum of ICT functions are in demand. If you are able to combineyour ICT knowledge with good interpersonal and communication skills,then you are the perfect fit for positions where ICT hardware andapplications are 'translated' for the general public.

Inprinciple, any combination of ICT with other skills (e.g. in theareas of security, health, education) is currently in high demand. Agood example is the relatively new role of the electronic interiordesigner. Nowadays, architects and companies often hire an externalICT specialist to advise them on the implementation and use ofelectronic and digital infrastructures in their buildings.

Moreover,in today's competitive job market, an ICT background is a solidstarting point for mid- to senior-level systems managementpositions.

Currently, the average job search for an ICTgraduate in the Netherlands takes six weeks, which is a record low.Whether you want to work in government, business or education: With aprofessional degree in ICT, you are sure to find a job in theNetherlands. It is up to you to decide in which field you would liketo start your career.

Innovators in the creativeindustries

For centuries, Dutch creativity has inspired andguided others. Geniuses like Rembrandt and Van Gogh changed the worldaround them.

Today's Dutch masters are icons like fashiondesigners Viktor & Rolf, architect Rem Koolhaas, designers MarcelWanders and Adriaan van Hooydonk, Miffy illustrator Dick Bruna and DJArmin van Buuren. They embody the strengths of Dutch design:pragmatic, open-minded, conceptual, unconventional and following theprinciple "less is more".

Dutch design also combinesinnovation, creativity and business. Dutch creativity proves thatcreativity makes business more innovative, competitive andprosperous.

The creative industries currently contribute about3% to Dutch GDP and employ about 170,000 people. More than twothirds.

Opportunities for multilinguals

There are manyEnglish-speaking jobs in the labour market, and there is demand.People who speak French and/or German will always be one step ahead.People who speak at least one of the Scandinavian languages, such asSwedish, Norwegian, Finnish or Icelandic, are in high demand.

Insummary, most jobs needed in the Netherlands depend on the city,language skills and many other factors. Some examples are engineers,doctors and healthcare specialists, ICT specialists and peopleworking in the creative industries. If you are fluent in English andhave some basic understanding of Dutch, you can go far. And it wouldnot hurt your chances if you speak another language.

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