The number of employees with flexible employment increased by 856,000 between 2003 and 2017, according to research from the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics.

Between 2003 and 2017, the number of employed young people (aged 15 to 25) increased from 1.2 million to 1.3 million. Meanwhile, the number of young employees with a flexible contract increased by nearly 400,000 (to a total of 883,000 in 2017) while the number of permanent contracts decreased by over 300,000.

As a result, the share of flexible workers among young people has increased from 41% in 2003 to 68% in 2017. CBS added that these young employees are mostly studying and school-aged with a part-time job.

Of the 883,000 young people with a flexible employment relationship in 2017, nearly 80% are also students. CBS stated that the number of students with work has grown in size, mainly because more young people are staying in education longer than before due to higher education.

According to CBS, the main reason for young people having a flexible contract is the need for flexibility.

Of the 25 to 45-year old age group, almost two out of ten in 2017 worked in a flexible employment relationship. In 2003 this was one in ten. CBS added that the number of 25- to 45-year-olds is declining in the Netherlands. However, the number of flexible workers still increased by 266,000, while the number of employees with a permanent employment relationship decreased by 811,000.

For employees over 45, the number of employees with a flexible employment relationship increased by 197,000 during the same period from 2003-2017. The number of employees with a permanent employment relationship and the number of self-employed people increased, together with about one million. As a result, the proportion of flexible employees among the over-45s grew 7% to 10%.