The job market is cooling, but in the technology sector the demand for MBO professionals remains sky-high. For companies, this means: those who invest in recruitment, training and employer branding now will soon have the best people on board.
Job openings drop, but tech remains tight.
It won't have escaped your notice: the job market is cooling. In the first six months of 2025, the number of vacancies in the Netherlands decreased by about 7,000 per quarter, according to CBS. In many sectors, that means: fewer jobs, more competition.
But not in engineering.
There, the demand for MBO professionals remains as high as ever.
Why technology keeps running
According to the UWV, technical occupations have been among the top "high-potential occupations" for years. Think of (service) mechanics, installation mechanics, welders, machinists and mechatronics workers. The UWV Stress Indicator shows that many of these positions are still very tight throughout the Netherlands.
This is because of three things:
- Replacement: many experienced professionals are retiring.
- Transitions: sustainability and automations. Machinery for automations must be designed, manufactured and maintained.
- Practical skills: many technical mbo vacancies require vocational certificates and experience. You can't just automate or outsource that.
Impact on employers
Whereas other sectors now have a little more breathing room and a little more choice, tech companies still need to recruit proactively. If you wait until the perfect candidate presents himself, you are too late. Companies that invest in attracting and retaining technical professionals will soon have an advantage.
Tips:
- Invest in Employer Branding, or being a good employer. Employer Branding is critical in attracting and retaining employees.
- Look beyond national borders; many technical college graduates from Europe are willing to work in the Netherlands.
- Invest in training and education of (future) employees.
How People with Skills is making a difference
At People with Skills, we specialize in finding, selecting and placing technical professionals at the intermediate vocational level from all over Europe.
We help employers distinguish themselves with strong employer branding and think about what strong employer branding looks like within your company. And, of course, how this can be communicated strongly to the outside world.
In addition, we organize and supervise programs to make new employees quickly employable. At Fokker Techniek, for example, we have recruited sheet metal workers from several European countries and trained them (in cooperation with the company) to become fully-fledged specialists who now work independently at Fokker Techniek.
Because the pool in the Netherlands is simply too small, looking across the border is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. We facilitate the entire relocation process: from recruitment abroad to visas, housing, onboarding and training. This allows you to fully focus on your projects, with the assurance that you have the right people.
Contact us today and find out how to solve your staffing challenge.
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