The Netherlands’ energy transition is accelerating, but its pace is limited by a shortage of hands. The largest gaps are in technical and skilled trades — from electricians and installers to construction workers and welders. Without them, even the best-designed renewable energy projects or industrial decarbonisation efforts will not be delivered on time.
Although the Netherlands is an active leader in the green transition with rising renewable energy shares and ambitious climate targets, the power grid sometimes runs out of capacity — congestion, connection queues and limited throughput are real obstacles to further growth. Tackling this requires not just capital but, above all, qualified technical workers who can deliver projects end-to-end. The trouble is the Dutch labour market is already at record tightness, with shortages concentrated in engineering, installation, and construction jobs.
The International Monetary Fund notes that the Netherlands is among EU countries with the tightest labour markets:
“The labor market has become increasingly tight, with job vacancies at record levels. At 4.5 percent as of 2023Q3, the Dutch job vacancy rate was the second highest in the EA (after Belgium with 4.7 percent) and well above the EA average of 2.9 percent. Relative to the number of unemployed, this was equivalent to about 113 vacant jobs per 100 unemployed.”
Source: IMF, Labour Market Shortages in the Netherlands, 2024.
Additional insight comes from ABN AMRO, which focuses on sectors tied to the energy transition in the Netherlands. It reports particularly acute gaps: over one-third of vacancies remain unfilled for an extended period because firms cannot find suitable candidates.
Employers struggle most to hire technical workers — electricians, HVAC and heat-pump installers, and insulation specialists — roles that directly determine the speed of building retrofits, grid upgrades and solar/wind deployment. ABN AMRO stresses the problem is structural: a shortage of people with specific competencies, not a temporary dip.
In practice, construction and energy companies are competing for the same talent. Delays in filling roles translate into tangible risks for climate targets. This is not merely an HR issue; it’s a macroeconomic constraint affecting the competitiveness of the Dutch economy.
The Netherlands’ energy transition plays out on two levels.
Local, distributed projects. Thousands of small-scale undertakings — rooftop solar PV installation, heat-pump installation in single-family homes, and the rollout of EV charging infrastructure — all require electricians, installation fitters, and technical helpers. The Netherlands leads the EU in solar panels per capita and has one of the densest EV charging networks. A shortage of hands at this level means that even generous subsidies won’t convert into timely projects because investments stall at execution.
The power system itself. Grid operators report growing grid congestion in the Netherlands — in some regions there simply is not enough transmission capacity to connect new solar farms or onshore wind. This demands investment and more network crews, maintenance technicians, and substation operators. They are the people who modernise transmission lines, expand transformer stations, and strengthen the system needed to unlock renewables at scale.
Considered separately, each layer is already challenging. Taken together, they show the real magnitude of the task: the green transition won’t stall for lack of capital or technology, but it can slow because of a shortage of skilled trades. For employers, this means sourcing talent not only domestically but also internationally via temporary staffing and direct recruitment.
Another area that needs thousands of additional workers is construction. ABN AMRO points out that meeting CO₂-reduction goals requires mass building retrofits — new insulation, heating-system upgrades and heat pumps. That translates into high demand for insulation installers, mechanical installers, and general construction workers.
Analyses indicate that tens of thousands of workers are already missing in construction, and the gap may widen as EU and national funds fuel more projects. Ageing workforces compound the issue — many seasoned tradespeople are retiring, while the inflow of young workers is too slow.
Reports such as Inaxtions (Sustainability Projects Increase Dutch Demand for Technical Workers, 2023) emphasise that prefabrication, insulation, and energy-infrastructure upgrades generate the strongest demand for physical, hands-on roles. Companies are increasingly seeking foreign workers to bridge shortages quickly.
Dutch industry — from refining and steel to chemicals — faces deep decarbonisation. Research (e.g., Decarbonising the Dutch industrial sector, 2025) shows this requires not only technology shifts (e.g., electrification of processes) but also significant manpower.
Across the industrial energy ecosystem, employers need large numbers of people to install new equipment, retrofit production lines, and operate assets based on clean energy. This transformation creates tens of thousands of additional roles in supporting functions — from logistics to maintenance.
Importantly, these sectors often rely on temporary and international workers. Polish welders, fitters, and machine operators already make up a substantial share of the workforce in Dutch manufacturing, and their role will only grow as industrial decarbonisation in the Netherlands accelerates.
The transition is not only about modernising existing assets; it also includes hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Projects in Rotterdam and Groningen — from hydrogen plants to CCS terminals — translate into hundreds of jobs for technicians, fitters, operators, and welders.
Prefabrication in construction is another trend lifting labour demand. Factory-made building components and modular installations need people for production, transport, and on-site assembly. Because the local market cannot supply enough labour, Dutch firms increasingly turn to international recruitment and staffing partners.
Public debate on the green transition often spotlights renewable-energy experts, engineers or project managers. In practice, the greatest demand is for skilled trades and mid-level technical roles.
Installers, electricians, construction workers, machine operators, welders — these are the backbone of the transition. Without them, PV arrays won’t be mounted, production lines won’t be modernised, and buildings won’t be insulated.
Polish workers are already one of the largest foreign groups on the Dutch labour market. Their mobility, hands-on experience, and readiness to relocate make them a natural support for Dutch firms wrestling with staffing gaps.
The green transition in the Netherlands is not only a technological or financial challenge; it is above all a workforce challenge. Analyses from the IMF, ABN AMRO, ScienceDirect, the JRC, and Inaxtion point to the same conclusion: the tightest bottlenecks concern skilled trades — electricians, installers, construction workers, welders, and operators. These roles will set the tempo for renewable energy deployment, building insulation, and industrial decarbonisation.
For companies, this means tapping new talent pools, including international recruitment. This is where staffing agencies create value: rapidly and flexibly placing the right people where they’re needed most.
Intraservis supports Dutch partners by providing vetted workers from Poland and across Europe. This helps enterprises deliver current projects and plan for long-term growth without fearing labour shortages. In this context, partnering with a temporary staffing agency in the Netherlands is not a cost — it’s an investment in stability and continuity.
Which sectors in the Netherlands feel labour shortages most?
Energy, construction, and energy-intensive industry. The most in-demand roles include electricians, installation fitters, welders, and construction workers.
Why is the Dutch labour market so tight?
According to institutions like the IMF and ABN AMRO, vacancies outnumber jobseekers. Demographics (ageing) and large renewable-energy investments amplify demand for technical staff.
Do Polish workers play a significant role in the Dutch market?
Yes. Polish workers are among the largest foreign groups in the Netherlands. Their mobility and experience in physical and technical roles make them crucial in filling gaps.
What are the key challenges facing Dutch energy?
Beyond the lack of installers and fitters, a major issue is grid congestion. Without additional network technicians and line-crews, it will be hard to connect new renewable sources.
What solutions can help Dutch firms?
Firms should leverage international recruitment (e.g., from Poland) and cooperate with staffing partners such as Intraservis to fill roles quickly and keep projects on schedule.