Of the workers who left unemployment to work in 2022, 24% started working as temporary workers, this was slightly lower than in previous years, according to research from the UWV (Employee Insurance Agency).  

In 2021, the share of workers who worked via a temporary employment agency after obtaining unemployment benefits stood at 26%. 

The share of people who moved on from unemployment benefit to a job with a permanent or temporary contract was slightly higher in 2022 than in previous years. The tightness in the labour market had a dampening effect on the use of temporary workers, the UWV stated. 

Employers are more likely to hire people themselves when there are shortages, the research stated. As a result, temporary employment agencies also have more difficulty finding temporary staff.

The research also found temporary workers are more likely to receive unemployment benefits than employees who are directly employed. This is because temporary workers are often used for seasonal work, for example, to deal with peak workloads and to replace people in the event of illness. On the other hand, this group also quickly finds work. For example, in 2022, 71% of temporary workers receiving unemployment benefit had returned to paid work after the end of unemployment benefit (or shortly thereafter).