The Dutch labour market has cooled from its post-pandemic peak, but demand for workers remains relatively high. Eurostat reported that the Netherlands had the highest job vacancy rate in the EU in the fourth quarter of 2025, at 3.9%. Statistics Netherlands also recorded unemployment at 3.9% in April 2026.

Labour market still showing demand

The country continues to attract workers looking for practical routes into employment abroad.

Vacancies are no longer rising at the pace seen in previous years, but the Dutch labour market remains tight compared with many other European countries. Eurostat data shows that the EU job vacancy rate stood at 2.0% in the fourth quarter of 2025, below the Dutch rate of 3.9%.

Recent Eurozone labour data also shows the wider role of mobile workers, with foreign workers accounting for more than half of new jobs created since 2021.

This keeps the Netherlands on the radar for workers seeking roles in sectors such as logistics, food production, hospitality, construction, technical services and care.

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Housing now part of the job decision

Accommodation has become one of the main factors for people considering a move to the Netherlands.

The Dutch government estimates that around 400,000 migrant workers from central, eastern and southern Europe are currently in the country, and says demand for temporary and longer-term housing is expected to remain high.

That helps explain why many mobile workers now look first for a job in the Netherlands with accommodation, especially when they are moving without local contacts, Dutch rental history or enough savings to secure private housing before arrival.

For temporary workers, arranged housing can make the first stage of relocation easier. It can also reduce the uncertainty of arriving in a competitive rental market while still looking for somewhere to live.

EU workers face fewer barriers

For Portuguese and other EU citizens, the legal route into the Dutch labour market is relatively straightforward.

The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service states that EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a residence permit to live in the Netherlands. They are also free to work without their employer needing a Dutch work permit.

This gives EU workers an advantage over non-EU applicants, who often face additional permit requirements before they can start work.

Agencies remain common route

Employment agencies continue to play an important role for workers arriving from other EU countries.

Work in NL, a Dutch government information service, says agency workers are employed by the agency but work at another company. It also notes that temporary agency workers are entitled to the same wages as permanent employees doing the same work.

For many new arrivals, agency work offers a structured first step. However, workers are advised to check contracts carefully, including working hours, deductions, transport arrangements and housing costs.

Workers urged to check housing terms

Accommodation linked to work should still be checked before travelling.

Business.gov.nl says employers, employment agencies and housing providers that arrange accommodation for migrant workers must meet requirements covering supervision and quality. These include standards related to living space, hygiene, privacy, sanitary facilities, safety and overall quality.

Workers should also check whether their tenancy agreement is separate from their employment contract. Under Dutch government guidance, tenancy agreements dated from 1 July 2023 must be separate for European labour migrants, meaning the worker does not automatically have to leave the accommodation if the job ends.

Practical, but not without pressure

The Netherlands is not the easiest country in Europe for housing, but it remains one of the more practical options for mobile EU workers.

The combination of free movement rights, continued labour demand and organised temporary work routes makes the country accessible. At the same time, housing pressure means workers should treat accommodation as part of the job offer, not as a separate detail to solve later.

For many workers, the best offer is no longer only the one with the highest hourly wage. It is the one with clear conditions, reliable housing, transparent deductions and enough support to make the move workable from the first week.