Demand for temporary workers decreased again in the first month of 2025

The demand for temporary workers has decreased further. ABU, the largest trade association of Dutch private employment agencies, reported that temporary workers worked almost a tenth fewer hours in the first four weeks of this year compared to the previous year. This is equal to a five percent decrease in turnover for the sector.

This is the most significant decrease in months when it comes to the number of hours worked. The administrative sector and the engineering sector were hit the hardest regarding demand for temporary workers in the first four weeks of the year. The decrease was less severe in the industrial sector. Turnover stayed the same in this sector.

A spokesperson for the trade association said that the decrease is linked to a tightness in the labor market. The spokesperson said that a reason for the decrease is that employers are more likely to hire temporary workers on a permanent basis.

Enforcement of the law against false self-employment among self-employed persons is not yet reflected in the figures, she also indicated. This change from the beginning of this year should lead to demand for temporary workers increasing, she said. This is because other flexible labor contracts will become more difficult to construct.

Temporary market agencies have seen their market shrink for years. ABU announced last month that the number of hours worked by temporary workers will drop by eight percent in 2024. This was the third year in a row that the number of hours worked had decreased. The reduction was less severe than in 2023.

The last year that saw an increase in hours worked was 2021. This growth was mainly due to the recovery of 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a loss of work.