Labour migrants filled 514,000 different jobs in the Netherlands in 2016, with more than half of them temporary jobs, according to a report from the Dutch Federation of Private Employment Agencies (ABU).

In total there were 371,000 thousand labour migrants from Central and Eastern Europe in 2016, of whom 183,000 were temporary workers (49%). Together they completed a total of 514,000 different jobs, nearly 1 in 20 jobs in the country, of which 275,000 were temporary jobs (54%).

The labour migrants were particularly active in agriculture and horticulture, business services, logistics, wholesale trade, the food industry and the metal industry.

According to research from ABU, migrant workers make a substantial contribution to production in the Netherlands and contribute approximately €11 billion to its national income.

“The research also shows that migrant workers primarily provide additional employment, production and income. Without employing these employees, employers expect to adjust, restrict or relocate their production process. ABU director Jurriën Koops: "This indicates that the Netherlands badly needs labour migrants. Without them, economic growth stagnates, both nationally and regionally. "

"The need for migrant workers will only increase in the coming years. Because of the growing economy. But especially also because from 2021 our workforce is shrinking. Migrant workers are simply needed to keep the labor force up to standard. But then, as a country of residence, we should remain attractive for this group of employees,” Koops said.

Koops also added that finding housing for labour migrants is a problem that must be addressed.

“The temporary employment sector plays an important role in the mediation of labor migrants: nearly half of them find work through an employment agency,” ABU stated. “That is why the ABU, as an employers' organisation in the temporary employment sector, calls on municipal and provincial authorities to work with temporary employment agencies and housing companies on housing for labor migrants. Because only then can the various regions remain attractive for companies and foreign employees.”