The labour market continues to evolve. In the second quarter of 2025, there were slightly more job vacancies than unemployed people. For every 100 job seekers, there were 101 vacancies, reports the CBS.* The number of jobs grew by 24,000, while the number of jobless persons decreased by 4,000. A striking yet not inexplicable trend: the number of self-employed is declining.
More employees, fewer self-employed
The growth is mainly among employees on payroll: 42,000 jobs were added in that category. Permanent contracts are gaining ground: 5.6 million people now have this type of employment relationship. Flexible jobs also show a slight increase.
The picture is different for the self-employed. Their number fell by 19,000 to just over 2.4 million. This decline had already started in the first quarter. The number of self-employed offering their own labour, such as construction workers, healthcare professionals or creatives, decreased for the first time since 2013. Many self-employed either quit or no longer work most of their hours in their own business.
From self-employed to employee
What do all those self-employed who opt out do? The majority remain active, albeit in a different form. Almost 60% switched to a flexible job. Think temporary contracts, agency work or call jobs. The number of self-employed who found a permanent job also doubled compared to the same quarter the previous year. Only a small group left the labour market altogether. These are often people who retired or were no longer available for work.
So it is not the case that the self-employed are massively without work. Many choose another form of employment, such as a salaried job.
Technical professions and care sector hit hard
Not every sector feels this movement equally strongly. The outflow of self-employed individuals is highest in the technical sector. Construction workers and other technical professionals are more frequently stepping away from their self-employed roles. Also, in healthcare, commercial professions, and the service industry, clear declines are visible. Consider nurses, salespeople, and hospitality workers. In home care, the number of people stopping even rose by 94 percent compared to last year.
The Chamber of Commerce confirms this picture. They mainly see a decrease in freelancers in sectors where bogus self-employment lurks.
Since January, bogus self-employment has been enforced more strictly. The Tax and Customs Administration looks more closely at structures where self-employed individuals are actually in employment. As a result, companies are more often opting for permanent contracts or flexible forms of employment, instead of freelancers.
According to Professor Joris Knoben, this is a real trend break. After years of uninterrupted growth, the influx of self-employed individuals is stagnating. He expects this movement to continue for a while, as deregistrations with the Chamber of Commerce often follow later.**
Differences per sector
In sectors where the risk of pseudo-self-employment is low, the demand for independent professionals continues to grow. Think of psychology, dentistry, and business services such as communications, public relations, and digital projects. We monitor labour market movements closely and understand what is happening in the various sectors. This means you can still engage independent professionals without any problems, while our insights allow you to adapt flexibly to changes and strengthen your teams exactly where it will have the most impact.
What does this mean for you?
This is valuable information for clients. The playing field is changing and requires adaptation. Where you previously found independents easily, you now have a higher chance of finding candidates looking for permanent or flexible contracts.
Three opportunities stand out:
- Focus on recruiting flexible workers, as that is where the greatest influx is.
- Take advantage of the growth of permanent contracts and position yourself as an employer that offers security.
- Closely follow sector developments, as the movement differs per industry.
Security when working with independents
Engaging independents is still quite possible but requires clear agreements. Contracts must comply with laws and regulations, especially now that enforcement on pseudo-self-employment is stricter. HeadFirst helps organisations to arrange this properly, ensuring that cooperation with independents remains safe and transparent. Consider up-to-date model agreements, tax checks, and advice on special situations. This way, you can continue working confidently with independent professionals, without legal uncertainties. Want to know more? Contact us.
* https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/nieuws/2025/31/spanning-op-arbeidsmarkt-niet-veranderd
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