As of April 2026, economic stability and dynamic growth in key sectors of the economy have arrived in the Netherlands. A positive signal is also the fact that inflation has stabilized at 2.7 percent, close to the European Central Bank’s target (cbs.nl). Retail trade recorded a year-on-year increase of 1.3 percent, while online sales are performing even better with a growth of 3.4 percent. Moreover, the Netherlands has just overtaken Germany as the global leader in cocoa product exports, reaching an export value of 12.4 billion euros in 2025. These positive economic indicators directly translate into increasing demand for workers in the food production, logistics, and retail sectors.
Table of Contents:
- Inflation in the Netherlands: stabilization at 2.7 percent
What does it mean for employee wages? - Retail trade is growing: 1.3 percent increase and a boom in e-commerce
- The Netherlands as the new leader in cocoa exports: 12.4 billion euros in value
- The food production sector needs workers
- Logistics and warehouses: employment growth driven by rising online sales
- How Intraservis connects workers with the growing Dutch economy
Inflation in the Netherlands: stabilization at 2.7 percent
Statistics Netherlands reported that, according to preliminary estimates, inflation in March 2026 reached 2.7 percent, slightly increasing from 2.4 percent in February (cbs.nl). This indicates economic stabilization after the turbulent years of 2022–2023, when inflation reached as much as 14.5 percent in September 2022.
Between February and March 2026, consumer prices increased by 0.7 percent month-over-month. This is in line with the average monthly change observed in March over the past decade. It is worth noting that the increase in inflation was mainly driven by rising energy prices, which grew by 6.5 percent year-over-year, while in February they remained unchanged. Prices of food, beverages, and tobacco increased moderately by 2.0 percent, while services became more expensive by 3.8 percent.
What does it mean for employee wages?
Stable inflation at 2.7 percent is good news for employees, especially those working in the Netherlands through employment agencies. It primarily means predictable living costs and greater ability to plan personal budgets. In the years 2022–2023, when inflation surged, rising prices significantly reduced the purchasing power of wages. The current inflation level allows employees to maintain the value of their earnings.
Moreover, Dutch minimum wage regulations are adjusted every six months based on the average increase in negotiated wages in the private sector. Stable inflation also means stable wage increases, which provides employees with a sense of financial security. For international workers employed by Intraservis, this stability is particularly important, as many of them send part of their earnings to families in Poland or Ukraine, and the predictable purchasing power of the euro is crucial.
Data also shows that prices of non-energy industrial goods remained stable at just 0.4 percent year-over-year growth, meaning everyday products are only slightly becoming more expensive. This is another positive signal for employees, who can maintain their standard of living without constant adjustments to their household budgets.
Retail trade is growing: 1.3 percent increase and a boom in e-commerce
In February 2026, Dutch retail trade recorded a turnover increase of 1.3 percent year-over-year, while the sales volume increased by 0.6 percent (cbs.nl). These figures are adjusted for calendar days, as some days of the week typically generate higher sales. Growth was recorded in both the food sector (1.4 percent) and the non-food sector (1.2 percent).
The highest growth was observed in home furnishing stores, which increased by 5.5 percent year-over-year. Drugstores (5.3 percent) and consumer electronics stores (3 percent) also ranked high. Growth was also recorded in clothing and footwear stores (2 percent), while stores selling recreational goods remained unchanged.
Online sales growth is also worth noting. E-commerce turnover increased by 3.4 percent year-over-year, which is significantly faster than traditional retail. The strongest growth was observed in the food and personal care segment, reaching nearly 9 percent. Online turnover in clothing and fashion products increased by 3.7 percent, while other non-food products grew by 0.3 percent.
Such growth directly impacts demand for workers, especially in e-commerce. Distribution centers require employees for order picking, packaging, and handling logistics systems.
At the same time, physical stores need staff for customer service, shelf restocking, and inventory management. A 1.3 percent increase may seem small, but on the scale of the entire Dutch retail market, it translates into thousands of additional jobs and increased demand for flexible labour.
The Netherlands as the new leader in cocoa exports: 12.4 billion euros in value
The Netherlands achieved a historic breakthrough in 2025 by overtaking Germany, the previous leader in cocoa product exports such as chocolate, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder (cbs.nl). The results are remarkable – Dutch cocoa product exports reached 12.4 billion euros, of which 11.4 billion euros was re-export. This represents nearly a threefold increase compared to 4.2 billion euros in 2020.
It is worth noting that the Netherlands is the world’s largest importer of cocoa beans, and Amsterdam remains the largest cocoa trading port globally. Cocoa beans arrive in large quantities from West Africa, mainly from Ivory Coast, which supplies 27 percent of Dutch cocoa imports. They are then processed in the Zaan region into semi-finished products exported to other countries for chocolate production.
The increase in export value was driven by a significant rise in cocoa bean prices, reflecting several years of weak harvests due to unfavorable weather conditions in West Africa. As a result, in 2025 the Dutch economy earned approximately 3 billion euros from cocoa exports, representing a significant contribution to GDP.
Germany remains the main recipient of Dutch cocoa products (25 percent), followed by Belgium (13 percent). The Netherlands exports about one-quarter of its cocoa products as chocolate and three-quarters as semi-finished products, while Germany specializes more in finished chocolate exports.
The food production sector needs workers
Taking the position of global cocoa export leader, combined with strong growth in food retail, increases workforce demand. Factories and warehouses must operate at full capacity to meet growing demand. A nearly 300 percent increase in exports over five years also means a proportional rise in employment needs.
Food production requires workers at various levels of specialization – from production line workers operating processing machines, through forklift operators transporting materials, to quality control specialists ensuring compliance with strict Dutch and European standards.
The nearly 9 percent increase in online sales of food and personal care products further boosts demand for workers in distribution centers handling e-commerce orders.
The Dutch food sector is known for high automation and advanced technologies. Therefore, jobs in this sector are not just simple repetitive tasks. Collaborative robots, vision systems, and advanced production management software require employees who understand how to operate systems and respond to unexpected situations.
Logistics and warehouses: employment growth driven by rising online sales
Growth of online sales by 3.4 percent year-on-year, and especially the dynamic growth of 9 percent in the segment of food and personal hygiene products, has a direct impact on the logistics sector. Dutch warehouses and distribution centres operate at full capacity in order to meet the growing demand for fast and reliable deliveries.
Growth of e-commerce requires specific competences from warehouse employees. Traditional warehouses handled large pallets of goods sent to retail stores. Modern fulfilment centres for e-commerce must handle thousands of individual orders daily, each consisting of different products that need to be picked, packed and sent to individual customers. This requires from employees physical efficiency, but also the ability to operate barcode scanners, tablets and warehouse management systems.
Growth of online sales also means demand for employees in a shift system. E-commerce does not know store closing hours – orders come in 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Many modern warehouses operate in a three-shift system, and some of the largest distribution centres operate non-stop. For employees this means the possibility of choosing a shift best suited to their preferences and access to shift allowances increasing base salary.
How Intraservis connects workers with the growing Dutch economy
In the face of a growing Dutch economy, stable inflation and dynamically developing sectors of food production, logistics and retail trade, demand for qualified employees has reached the highest level in years. For employment agencies such as Intraservis, specializing in international recruitment, this is a unique opportunity to help both Dutch employers and employees from Poland, Ukraine and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Intraservis understands the specifics of the Dutch labour market and knows the needs of companies operating in sectors that are currently growing the most. The key element of the added value of Intraservis is comprehensive support going beyond recruitment itself.
Flexibility of employment models is an advantage of cooperation with Intraservis. In times when the economy grows by 1.3 percent, inflation amounts to 2.7 percent and the economic future remains uncertain, companies need the possibility of flexible adjustment of the level of employment to real demand. Intraservis offers different models of cooperation, from short-term seasonal contracts for companies handling peaks of sales (such as the pre-Christmas period in retail trade) to long-term contracts for employees in stable sectors such as food production.
For Dutch employers in the logistics sector, who experience 9-percent growth in the online segment of food and personal hygiene products, Intraservis is a partner who can quickly increase the team with additional employees when the peak of orders arrives, and then help adjust the level of employment when demand decreases. This flexibility is crucial in an industry characterized by seasonal fluctuations and unpredictable spikes in demand.
FAQ
Is 2.7 percent inflation in the Netherlands good for workers? Yes, 2.7 percent inflation is close to the European Central Bank’s target and means stable, predictable living costs. Compared to the peak inflation rate of 14.5 percent in 2022, the current situation allows workers to maintain the purchasing power of their wages and plan their household budgets.
Why is the growth in online sales important for the labor market? A 3.4 percent increase in online sales-and particularly a 9 percent rise in the food segment—means growing demand for workers in distribution centers, warehouses, and logistics. Every online order requires workers to pick, pack, and ship it, creating thousands of jobs.
How does the Netherlands’ position as a leader in cocoa exports affect employment? Cocoa product exports worth 12.4 billion euros mean an extensive processing infrastructure, particularly in the Zaan region. Facilities that process cocoa beans into semi-finished products need production line workers, machine operators, quality control inspectors, and warehouse staff. A nearly 300 percent increase in exports over five years generates a proportional increase in staffing needs.
What kind of support does Intraservis offer to international employees? Intraservis offers comprehensive support that goes beyond recruitment: assistance in finding affordable housing, help with administrative formalities (BSN number, health insurance, municipal registration), organization of required training and certifications, and flexible employment models tailored to employees’ needs.
Is it worth working in the food production sector in the Netherlands? Yes, the Dutch food production sector offers stable employment in modern facilities equipped with advanced technologies. Strict Dutch occupational safety regulations ensure better working conditions than in many other countries. Additionally, working in the export sector means stable order volumes even during more challenging economic periods.
What are the employment prospects in the Netherlands in 2026? Data from April 2026 show a stable economy with growing food production, logistics, and retail sectors. Stable inflation, rising exports, and growing online sales create a positive outlook for the job market. Companies need employees and are willing to offer competitive terms to attract and retain good candidates.
