Strong growth in the transport sector
In all sectors, an increase in employment is expected for the third quarter. The key figures:
Transport, logistics, and automotive sector: the most positive employment forecast is found in the transport, logistics, and automotive sector with 49 percent. Compared to Q2 2025, this is a decrease of 4 percentage points. However, there is an observable increase of 9 percentage points compared to Q3 2024.
Consumer goods and services: in the consumer goods and services sector, the employment outlook is also high. With a net employment figure of 45 percent, there is an increase of 8 percentage points on a quarterly basis and 7 percentage points on an annual basis.
Communication services: in the communication services sector, which includes telecom and advertising companies, the strongest increase is expected with 36 percent compared to Q2 2025. This is an increase of 14 percentage points compared to the second quarter of this year and even 52 percentage points when compared to the third quarter of 2024.
Organizations adjust HR strategy to aging workforce
Organizations need new talent more than ever due to the increasing aging population. In the tight labor market, this presents a challenge that requires a different approach. 57 percent of Dutch organizations foresee that this development impacts their HR strategy. This is felt most strongly in the sectors of communication services (66%), financial services and real estate (62%), energy and utilities (61%), and healthcare (61%).
Andre Secrest, General Director at ManpowerGroup Netherlands: "The tightness in the labor market is structural and remains a constant. Therefore, organizations must not only focus on attracting new talent but also on retaining their people. This requires policies that align with different generations and life stages, from Gen Z to older generations in the workplace. This prevents premature turnover and strengthens the sustainable employability of the team.
Therefore, it is essential to look strategically at your workforce composition and to invest in automation, retraining, and internal mobility. Technology and AI are changing the nature of work in practically all professions. By thinking in terms of skills and talents, and making them more broadly applicable, you build a flexible and future-proof workforce. And that is crucial, especially now that the employment outlook in the Netherlands is surprisingly positive."
The full version of the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey can be downloaded here.
