Fewer assignments and more competition, yet hourly rates continue to rise

 

Hoofddorp – After a period of exceptional growth, the Dutch flexible labour market is finding a new balance. At its peak in late 2024, 22% of highly educated workers were working as external professionals. By the second quarter of 2026, this share had fallen to 18%. At the same time, there are fewer assignments and more professionals competing for each one, while hourly rates continue to rise. These findings come from the latest edition of the Talent Monitor, jointly published by HR tech service provider HeadFirst and labour market data specialist Intelligence Group.

Flexible workforce returns to pre-growth levels

With around 775,000 self-employed professionals and seconded employees, the flexible workforce remains an important part of the Dutch labour market. In 2022, they accounted for around 17% to 18% of highly educated workers. This share rose to a peak of 22% in late 2024. Since then, the flexible workforce has gradually declined. The end of the enforcement moratorium on false self-employment has played an important role in this development. Organisations have adjusted their hiring policies, tightened contracts and reduced their flexible workforce.

Hourly rates continue to rise despite fewer assignments

The supply of flexible work has also declined sharply during this period. Compared with the same quarter four years earlier, the number of registered assignments has fallen by around 42%. Yet increased competition has not led to lower rates. The average realised hourly rate rose from €91.10 in the second quarter of 2022 to €102.38 in the second quarter of 2026. This represents an increase of more than 12%.

Geert-Jan Waasdorp, CEO at Intelligence Group, says: “The fact that rates continue to rise while there are fewer assignments and more competition between professionals shows that hourly rates are only loosely determined by supply and demand. Despite changing market conditions that are putting pressure on the flexible labour market, rates continue to keep pace with inflation. We have seen this pattern in our data for some time.”

5 colleagues in a meeting

Movement between permanent and flexible work stabilises

Labour market mobility also shows a stable picture. Currently, 22% of self-employed professionals are actively looking for a new assignment, compared with 24% of seconded employees. These figures are lower than during previous peaks.

The decline is partly linked to the shrinking population of flexible professionals. Professionals who were unable to find assignments for an extended period have left the flexible labour market.

 

Movement between permanent and flexible employment is also stabilising. Thirteen per cent of self-employed professionals would like to move into permanent employment. A similar share of employees is considering becoming self-employed.

Allard van Dam, Country Manager Netherlands at HeadFirst, says: “What we are seeing is a market that is maturing. Flexible professionals continue to play an indispensable role for organisations that need specialist expertise, additional capacity or temporary support. At this stage, it is particularly important to take a strategic approach to workforce deployment, regardless of the type of contract.”