Job Market Overview: Employment Statistics in Netherlands

    Understanding Netherlands's job market is crucial for both job seekers and employers. The country's current employment indicators show:


    Key Metric Current Status
    Total Population 17.134.873 residents
    Employment Rate 65.4% (below OECD average)
    Unemployment Rate 3.5% (very competitive market)
    Workforce Size 11.206.207 active workers

    These Netherlands employment statistics reveal a tight labor market where candidates should highlight specialized skills. The 65.4% employment rate suggests moderate job availability across sectors.


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    Living & Working in Netherlands: Economic Insights

    Before relocating or applying for jobs in Netherlands, consider these key economic factors:

    Economic Indicator Value Comparison to U.S.
    Average Monthly Salary 3.609,45 USD 80% of U.S. average (moderately lower)
    Purchasing Power 85.6 strong compared to U.S. (100)
    Source: World Bank, Numbeo - Last updated May 2025

    With 85.6 purchasing power, salaries in Netherlands provide comfortable living standards. The average monthly salary of 3.609,45 USD is particularly attractive in the Agriculture sector.

    Top Industries & Job Opportunities in NL

    Netherlands's thriving job market spans these key sectors:

    Leading Industry Agriculture (growing at 5% annually)
    Emerging Sector Manufacturing (25% of workforce)
    Service Sector Financial Services, IT (60% of GDP)
    Major Employers Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, ING Group (hiring year-round)

    Job seekers should focus on Agriculture for the most opportunities, while Manufacturing offers growth potential. Major companies like Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, ING Group frequently post openings for skilled professionals.


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    Working in Netherlands - FAQs

    1. What's the employment situation in Netherlands?

    With a population of 17,134,873 and an employment rate of 65.4%, Netherlands offers a competitive job market. The unemployment rate currently stands at 3.5%.

    2. Which are the top companies in Netherlands?

    The leading employers in Netherlands include Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, ING Group. These companies offer diverse opportunities across multiple sectors.

    3. How far does salary go in Netherlands?

    The purchasing power ratio in Netherlands is 85.6, meaning cost of living should be carefully considered when evaluating job offers.

    4. How can I find jobs in Netherlands?

    Search our listings filtered for Netherlands. Focus on industries where Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, ING Group are active, and consider that the 65.4% employment rate suggests moderate competition for positions.

    5. What should I know about working in Netherlands?

    With Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, ING Group as major employers, the job market tends to favor Manufacturing and Financial Services, IT.

    Top Cities and Companies across Netherlands


    Alkmaar (109.949 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Alkmaar: Royal Alkmaar Cheese Market, AFAS Software, Tata Steel, TNO, Rabobank

    Almere (216.732 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Almere: Yanmar, LeasePlan, Adecco, Smurfit Kappa, Windesheim Flevoland

    Amersfoort (156.286 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Amersfoort: FrieslandCampina, Yokogawa, Royal HaskoningDHV, VolkerWessels, Twynstra Gudde

    Amsterdam (821.752 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Amsterdam: ING, Philips, Heineken

    Apeldoorn (165.525 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Apeldoorn: Centraal Beheer, Royal Reesink, Kadaster, Agrifirm, Achmea

    Arnhem (162.740 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Arnhem: Alliander, TenneT, AkzoNobel, KEMA, Teijin Aramid

    Breda (184.762 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Breda: Royal Cosun, Amgen, Scania, CM.com, Desso

    Den Bosch (154.205 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Den Bosch: Heijmans, Van Lanschot, Ricoh, SAP, SAPPI

    Deventer (100.878 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Deventer: Wolters Kluwer, Roto Smeets, Tauw, Grolsch, Apollo Vredestein

    Dordrecht (118.654 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Dordrecht: DuPont, Boskalis, Fokker, Damen Shipyards, Verwater Group

    Eindhoven (231.642 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Eindhoven: Philips, ASML, DAF Trucks

    Enschede (158.986 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Enschede: Grolsch, Thales, University of Twente, TenCate, Urenco

    Groningen (233.218 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Groningen: GasTerra, Gasunie, University of Groningen, IBM, Catawiki

    Haarlem (161.265 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Haarlem: Teva Pharmaceuticals, Arcadis, Stahl, Ymere, ABC Legal

    Helmond (92.729 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Helmond: VDL Groep, Automotive Campus, Huijbregts Groep, Van Thiel United, InnoSportLab

    Hillegom (21.370 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Hillegom: Royal Van Zanten, De Ree Holland, Hillegom Plant, FloraHolland, Florex

    Hilversum (91.524 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Hilversum: Media Park, NPO, Talpa, RTL Nederland, United

    Hoofddorp (75.598 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Hoofddorp: Schiphol Airport, Asics, Danone, L’Oréal, Schneider Electric

    Leeuwarden (123.107 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Leeuwarden: FrieslandCampina, ING, Aegon, Wetsus, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences

    Leiden (124.899 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Leiden: Leiden University, Astellas Pharma, Janssen Biologics, Avery Dennison, Airbus Defence and Space

    Maastricht (122.387 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Maastricht: Universiteit Maastricht, DSM, Medtronic, Sappi, VodafoneZiggo

    Nijmegen (177.698 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Nijmegen: NXP Semiconductors, Synthon, Radboud University, Ampleon, Sappi

    Rotterdam (651.446 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Rotterdam: Port of Rotterdam, Unilever, Shell, Robeco, Erasmus MC

    Sittard (92.930 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Sittard: Sabic, DSM, OCI Nitrogen, Lonza, Sitech Services

    The Hague (544.766 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in The Hague: Royal Dutch Shell, Aegon, Nationale Nederlanden, Siemens, KPN

    Tilburg (219.632 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Tilburg: Tesla Motors, FujiFilm, Coca-Cola, CZ Groep, Interpolis

    Utrecht (357.179 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Utrecht: Rabobank, ASR Nederland, Jaarbeurs, ProRail

    Veghel (31.873 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Veghel: Mars, Vanderlande, Sligro, Agrifirm, FrieslandCampina DMV

    Venlo (101.578 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Venlo: Océ, Seacon Logistics, Nutricia, Canon, Ewals Cargo Care

    Zeist (63.528 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Zeist: PGGM, RIVM, FIGI, Triodos Bank, KNVB

    Zoetermeer (125.507 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Zoetermeer: Siemens, Getronics, Tele2, SnowWorld, Dutch Innovation Factory

    Zwolle (125.000 inhabitants)

    Job opportunities in Zwolle: Wehkamp, ABN AMRO, Rabobank, Wavin, Scania Production Zwolle

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