The shortage of labor migrants is tangible, especially in agriculture, the sector with the largest share of employees from the central and eastern Netherlands. Large employment agencies are unable or hardly able to meet the demand from farmers and if we are to believe the forecasts, the problem will only get worse in the coming years.
It is hectic at most employment agencies at the moment. The demand for temporary workers is high at this time of year, partly due to seasonal work in the agricultural sector. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to answer that question. Due to the strong economic growth in Eastern Europe, fewer and fewer Eastern Europeans are looking for work in Western Europe. In addition, the migrant workers already established here are more likely to choose to return. ABN Amro expects that the number of Eastern European workers employed in the Netherlands will gradually decrease.
This development is at odds with the strongly growing demand for labor from Central and Eastern Europe, the so-called CEE countries. While these are economically favorable times, the working population in the Netherlands will shrink from 2021 due to aging and dejuvenation. The number of labor migrants from Central and Eastern Europe who are active as employees in the Netherlands was 2016 in 371.000, according to research of SEO Economic Research. Together they filled 514.000 different jobs, which amounts to 4,7% of the total number of available jobs in the Netherlands. This means that almost 1 in 20 jobs in the Netherlands was filled by a CEE country.
Less Polish forces
Due to the high levels of seasonal work, the agricultural sector is most dependent on workers from Eastern Europe. Of the CEE-landers in the Netherlands, 26,4% work in agriculture and horticulture, followed by the temporary employment sector with 20,8% (which often also concerns agricultural workplaces). As employment and wages in Eastern Europe grow, and the motivation of Eastern Europeans to move in this direction is declining, bottlenecks are emerging. "Particularly in the agriculture and logistics sectors," agrees Simone Nederend of ABU (Algemene Bond Uitzendondernemingen). "We hear from our members that it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill in the demand." In particular, the supply to Poland is falling. "Organizations have to look further afield for workers. For example in Italy and Spain where many Romanians work."
Harold Van Leeuwen
Harold van Leeuwen of employment agency AB Midden Nederland recognizes this development. "We are fully equipped for Poland and surrounding countries such as Romania, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania. Thanks to our 5 recruiters with a good network, we are still growing, but it takes more and more energy. Some vacancies are difficult to fill, on both the top and bottom. There are employment agencies that look further, for example in Asia. However, then it becomes a lot more complicated organisationally, such as permits and airline tickets. We believe that as long as we take good care of the migrant workers, in terms of housing and salary, we can continue to fill demand closer to home."
Need higher wages
For this, according to Van Leeuwen, wages have to rise. "Working migrants can now choose and will not fillet fish for a few euros." Problems therefore arise especially with poorly paid, heavy and dirty work. "The agricultural sector is not so sexy in that regard. It is difficult to fill workplaces in horticulture and livestock farming." Housing is also a major issue. "Take the fruit sector, for example, where we now have about 400 labor migrants at work. We ask employers in this sector to actively contribute ideas and to organize their own accommodation at the company."
In an earlier sector forecast ABN Amro states that the agricultural sector is struggling with a tightening labor market. The vacancy rate (the number of vacancies per 1.000 jobs) in agriculture has risen from 9 to 20 in two years. More and more farmers and horticulturists experience the shortage of labor as an obstacle in their business operations, limiting growth. The shortage of less trained personnel is greatest. Statistics Netherlands reported earlier this year that about 50.000 extra labor migrants will be needed in the coming years to fill the jobs in our country.
European shifts
The great need for labor migrants is not limited to the Netherlands. Take Germany, for example, which is also experiencing a strong aging population. According to recent research, the country will need 2060 migrants a year until 260.000 to cope with the consequences. Neighboring Poland, where many Ukrainians now work, is calling back its 'own' people now that the country's economy is improving. In the neighboring countries of Ukraine, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, residents often choose to build a better life across the border with better wages, which in turn creates labor shortages in these countries. In short, migrant workers are also needed in Central and Eastern Europe.
Brexit positive impulse
According to Nora Neuteboom, Emerging Markets Economist at ABN Amro, there are also factors that can relieve the pressure in the Netherlands. "In the event of a Brexit, many Eastern Europeans will leave the United Kingdom who may settle in the Netherlands. Entrepreneurs can also invest extra in digitization and robotization where possible to mitigate the effect of the staff shortage in the long term."
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This is in response to it Boerenbusiness article:
[url=http://www.boerenbusiness.nl/ artikel/10883298/landbouw-niet-sexy-voor-polisse-werkers]Agriculture not 'sexy' for Polish workers[/url]