Artificial intelligence could be stealing entry-level jobs in the Netherlands
Young job seekers in the Netherlands are facing fewer opportunities as the share of open positions aimed at junior employees has fallen sharply over the past year, and artificial intelligence (AI) may be to blame, according to Het Financieele Dagblad (FD).
Data firm Intelligence Group analyzed all active vacancies in the country and found that in the second quarter of 2025, only 9.2 percent were targeted at recent graduates and candidates with little work experience. In the same period in 2024, that share was 14.4 percent.
The researchers did not identify a single clear explanation for the decline but pointed to broader macroeconomic factors and the growing role of artificial intelligence as possible causes.
The figures reportedly align with a report the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) is releasing Thursday. The agency warns that the rise of generative artificial intelligence poses a threat to employment prospects for entry-level workers. “They will have more difficulty building a career,” the UWV stated.
According to Frank Verduijn, a labor market adviser at UWV, generative AI technology can easily take over preparatory tasks often performed by junior staff in fields such as consulting and financial advising. “That work is now largely done by juniors,” Verduijn told FD.
The report also highlights that occupations in IT and customer service are particularly vulnerable to automation and replacement by AI systems.
