Freelance assignments drop 42% across the Netherlands

The number of assignments available for independent professionals has fallen by 42% since the end of 2024, according to an annual trend report by HeadFirst and Intelligence Group.

Companies are hiring significantly fewer freelance and seconded staff following stricter enforcement against bogus self-employment by the Dutch Tax Office (Belastingdienst).

Demand has dropped much faster than supply, prompting tens of thousands of professionals to stop freelancing or return to payroll jobs.

By late June, 18% of the approximately 775,000 highly educated workers in the country were self-employed, down from 22% at the end of 2024.

Stricter rules reduce contract openings

Average independent contractors search for work six to seven times a year. Many clients have tightened contract terms, changed hiring procedures, and reduced their flexible workforce due to the increased tax scrutiny.

Competition is fiercest within the national government, where the number of applicants is five times higher than the number of available roles. Flexible staff within central government decreased from 13% in the middle of last year to 11% now, while paying an average rate of €111 per hour.

Local and provincial authorities have made deeper reductions, cutting flexible workers from 13% four years ago to 7% now. However, only 4% of affected professionals indicate an interest in moving onto government payrolls.

Shifting hiring across industries

In the energy sector, the share of flexible workers fell from 25% to 11%, yet total headcount expanded significantly because many independent workers accepted permanent employment.

Financial services reduced its flexible workforce from 28% to 18%, though most workers prefer to remain in the sector, where compensation sits above the general average hourly rate of €104.

In logistics, transport, and production, flexible staffing rose from 8% in 2022 to 12% today. Despite this growth, assignments are declining faster than in other industries, making it the only sector where rates have failed to increase.

Hourly fees keep track with inflation

Despite the falling number of available roles, hourly rates have not declined and continue to track inflation.

Business and management advisers currently charge an average of €119.30 per hour, network specialists earn €115.66, and database administrators cost an average of €121.41 per hour.

Source: De Telegraaf