Fewer workers in flexible employment and more on permanent contracts | Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

The fall in the number of workers in flexible employment was offset by an increase of 98 thousand employees on permanent contracts and 29 thousand self-employed workers relative to Q1 2023. In both Q1 2024 and the last two quarters of 2023, the number of workers in permanent employment grew proportionally more than the number of workers in flexible employment and of those that were self-employed, relative to the previous year. The number of people in permanent employment has been rising since 2016, and the number of self-employed workers has been rising ever since the start of this series in 2013. The number of workers in flexible employment also decreased in 2019 and during the coronavirus pandemic.

More flex workers with the prospect of permanent employment

CBS and TNO distinguish different types of flexible employment contracts, which offer varying degrees of job and income security. In Q1 2024, the number of employees on a fixed-term contract with the prospect of permanent employment in the near future increased (by 15 thousand). However, this was a smaller increase than in the previous year. On the other hand, the number of employees on a fixed-term contract of less than a year decreased (by 33 thousand). The same goes for those with contracts of one year or more (26 thousand fewer). In Q1 2023, both groups grew compared to the previous year. The number of on-call and occasional workers increased over the past two years, and the number of temporary workers has now fallen for two consecutive years.

Continued increase in self-employment

In Q1 2024, the year-on-year increase in the number of self-employed workers was driven almost exclusively by the increase of 40 thousand in self-employed workers without staff. The group of self-employed workers who employ staff remained almost unchanged (an increase of 1 thousand), and the number of contributing family workers decreased by 11 thousand. The number of self-employed workers increased sharply in the healthcare sector, particularly among physicians and (physical) therapists. Self-employment in this latter group had been on the rise for some time.

More temporary and self-employed workers among older workers

The number of temporary workers increased in the age groups of 55 years and over, and decreased among workers aged 15-54 years. At the same time, the number of employees on a fixed-term contract with the prospect of permanent employment declined among people aged 55 and over. Among those in the 15-24 age group, it remained stable, and the number was higher among those in the age group 25-54. The number of self-employed workers increased in all age groups, but particularly among those aged 55 and over.