More companies using referral bonuses to attract job candidates amid labor shortage

Employers are continually having to make more of an effort to recruit new staff and job applicants. They have been increasingly using more financial resources like referral bonuses and premiums paid to a current employee when they recommend a new colleagues who is subsequently hired, said employers’ association AWVN this week.

A member survey showed that more than half of employers use referral bonuses. Half of the companies are also giving new staff members higher salaries.

In addition to financial resources, employers are also trying to offer more attractive secondary employment conditions and fringe benefits. New employers are more likely to be offered flexible working hours and more work-from-home opportunities.

The AWVN said that experienced employers in the technology, production, and IT sectors are bumping up against the most obstacles on the job market. Over half of employers expect the difficulties to continue.

Roughly 30 percent even expect the ongoing staffing issues to increase further. The tech and IT sectors extensively recruit highly-skilled talent abroad and international students who complete their education in the Netherlands.

Both topics have been contentious in Dutch politics over the past year, and could be affected by the outcome of the ongoing negotiations to form a new Cabinet.