Most employers struggling with staff shortages

The majority of employers are still struggling with a shortage of staff. At the end of last year, six out of ten organizations indicated that they were experiencing difficulties due to the tightness in the labor market, about the same as a year earlier. An approximately equal number expect that filling vacancies will remain just as difficult this year, reported benefits agency UWV after surveying over 2,300 employers.

Over two-thirds of affected companies said that the shortage of staff has increased the workload. “We see that employers in sectors like public administration, construction, and education are particularly struggling,” said Erica Maurits, a labor market advisor at UWV. Almost a third indicate that they expect even more difficulty finding people for vacancies this year, only 9 percent expect this to become easier.

As a countermeasure, employers are mainly choosing to focus more on retaining staff and paying more attention to recruitment. A minority of 46 percent are choosing to organize their work differently.

“There are indications that the shortage will continue for a longer period. The focus on recruitment and retention may therefore not be sufficient for many employers. Employers must develop a long-term vision and focus more on organizing work differently,” said Maurits. This could involve, for example, adjusting task packages or using technology.