One in three Dutch workers reports miscommunication in multilingual workplaces

Roughly one in three workers at multilingual companies in the Netherlands say language differences regularly lead to misunderstandings on the job, according to new findings from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and research institute TNO. The impact is especially felt in construction, agriculture, and manufacturing, where workers say language-related confusion often results in mistakes or even workplace exclusion.

The annual labor survey, completed by more than 30,000 employees, included for the first time a question on which languages are spoken among colleagues. The most commonly reported problem was functional: more than 10 percent of employees said communication barriers led to errors or made it difficult to complete tasks. Social issues were also reported—4 percent of employees in multilingual workplaces said they sometimes feel excluded, and nearly 2 percent said they have felt discriminated against due to language differences.

Multilingualism is most common in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, where nearly six out of ten companies use more than one language in the workplace. Despite this, language misunderstandings in ICT are among the lowest across all sectors studied, suggesting that the tech industry may be better equipped to handle linguistic diversity.

While communication barriers remain a challenge in many sectors, TNO researchers highlight how technology can play a critical role in addressing broader labor shortages—if implemented properly. “The success of new technology rises or falls with how employees handle it,” said TNO labor market researcher Dr. Jessie Koen. “Technology is not good or bad in itself, but it always affects how we do our jobs.”

Koen explained that technology can either replace workers or strengthen their abilities, expanding the potential labor pool. In one experiment conducted with VDL and Instituut Gak, untrained students using projection technology assembled battery parts just as effectively as trained peers. “Technology helped them learn tasks on the spot. That’s how you make more people suitable for the same job,” she said.

Koen warned against simply automating work without involving employees. “Too often, employers focus on what’s technically possible instead of what workers actually need. If employees are not trained properly, or the system doesn’t fit into their workflow, that expensive robot may just gather dust in the corner,” she said. In one example, a production line was automated to reduce physical strain on workers, but employees reported feeling disconnected from the end product and less satisfied with their jobs.

Koen concluded that supporting employee development is key: “Technology should not only assist with tasks but also enable learning. Workers should be able to adapt and help improve the tools they use. Otherwise, innovation will fail to take root where it's needed most.”