Netherlands Loses Labor Appeal; Randstad NL Urges Migration Debate Shift; Sweden Focuses on Skilled Workers – Market Trends
The Netherlands
Netherlands Losing Appeal in International Labor Market
Research by Intelligence Group reveals that Netherlands rarely ranks as a first choice among this group, often falling to second place or lower.
Despite nearly 1.6 million Europeans expressing willingness to live and work in the Netherlands, including a highly sought-after 74% in blue-collar professions, the nation struggles to be the top destination.
Out of more than 24 million Europeans open to working internationally, a mere 8% consider the Netherlands, facing competition from many countries.
Poland, the largest talent pool for the Netherlands, shows a preference for working in Germany (45%) and England (22%) over the Netherlands, which doesn’t even make the top three choices for Poles.
Randstad NL CEO Calls for Depolarization of Labor Migration Debate
Randstad Netherlands CEO, Jeroen Tiel, criticizes the “polarized” political debate in The Hague over restricting labor migration, highlighting the acute shortage of workers in sectors like technology and healthcare.
Tiel emphasizes the undeniable need for migrant workers to address these shortages and urges a separation of the discussion on labor and knowledge migrants from broader migration debates.
He advocates for a forward-looking approach to labor market challenges, stressing the importance of migrant workers in sustaining the economy and supporting initiatives like the energy transition.
Tiel points to ASML’s recent warning about potentially relocating operations due to worker shortages as a clear indication of the issue’s severity. Additionally, he suggests tapping into the underutilized potential of retirees for part-time roles as part of a broader solution, but not as a complete answer to the labor market’s needs.
Sweden
Sweden Tightens Labor Immigration Rules to Prioritize Highly Skilled Workers
Sweden has proposed stricter regulations for labor immigration, aiming to attract highly skilled workers while adjusting work permit conditions. Slated for implementation on June 1, 2025, the new policy mandates a minimum monthly salary of SEK 34,200 for non-EU labor, aligning with the country’s median wage. This replaces the previous threshold of 80% of the median wage.
The Swedish Migration Agency has revamped its work permit application process as of January 29, 2024, to better serve employers seeking highly qualified workers.
By prioritizing applications by occupation and readiness for decision, the Agency aims to expedite processing, especially for highly qualified candidates, promising a 30-day turnaround.
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Nathalie Crivello
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