Enterprises; sourcing abroad, motives and barriers

View full table Show description
Industry/Branches (SIC 2008) Factors Importance of factors Enterprises; sourced or concidered (number)
B-N Business economy Reduction of labour costs Total 815
Important or very important 595
Very important 305
Important 290
Not important 100
Not applicable/ Do not know 125
Costs exceed expected benefit Total 815
Important or very important 200
Very important 40
Important 155
Not important 235
Not applicable/ Do not know 385
B-F Manufacturing and energy Reduction of labour costs Total 275
Important or very important 225
Very important 145
Important 80
Not important 25
Not applicable/ Do not know 25
Costs exceed expected benefit Total 275
Important or very important 100
Very important 20
Important 85
Not important 95
Not applicable/ Do not know 80
G-N Commercial services Reduction of labour costs Total 540
Important or very important 370
Very important 160
Important 210
Not important 70
Not applicable/ Do not know 95
Costs exceed expected benefit Total 540
Important or very important 95
Very important 20
Important 75
Not important 140
Not applicable/ Do not know 305
B Mining and quarrying Reduction of labour costs Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Costs exceed expected benefit Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
C Manufacturing Reduction of labour costs Total 255
Important or very important 205
Very important 140
Important 65
Not important 25
Not applicable/ Do not know 25
Costs exceed expected benefit Total 255
Important or very important 95
Very important 20
Important 75
Not important 85
Not applicable/ Do not know 75
D Energy supply Reduction of labour costs Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Costs exceed expected benefit Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
E Water supply and waste management Reduction of labour costs Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Costs exceed expected benefit Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
F Construction Reduction of labour costs Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
Costs exceed expected benefit Total .
Important or very important .
Very important .
Important .
Not important .
Not applicable/ Do not know .
G Wholesale and retail trade Reduction of labour costs Total 150
Important or very important 95
Very important 35
Important 55
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains figures on market‑oriented active enterprises in the Netherlands within the branches of manufacturing and energy, and commercial services, that during the reference period sourced business functions abroad or considered doing so. The table covers the motives and barriers that played a role in the decision or consideration to source activities abroad, and the degree of importance of these factors. It focuses on larger enterprises with an average of at least 50 employed persons in the latest reference year. Dormant (non‑active) units and enterprises that have completely left the Netherlands are excluded. The figures cover all enterprises that were active for at least part of the reference period and that remained active at the end of that period. The distribution of enterprises is shown by branch (SIC 2008), by motive or barrier, and by the importance of the factors.

Data available from: 2021-2023

Status of the figures:
The figures for 2021-2023 are provisional, pending comparison with the next reference period.

Changes as of 27 February 2026:
None, this is a new table.

When will new figures be published?
By the end of 2028 at the latest, the figures for 2024-2026 will be published. The figures for 2021-2023 will then become final.

Description topics

Enterprises; sourced or concidered
Number of market-oriented active enterprises within the branches of manufacturing and energy, and commercial services, with at least 50 employed persons, that have sourced or considered sourcing business functions abroad during the reference period.

Enterprise: The actual transactor in the production process characterized by independence with respect to decisions about that process and by offering its products to third parties. When this extends across different countries, for the purpose of national statistics the Dutch part is regarded as a single enterprise.

The population consists of active enterprises in the Netherlands recorded in the business register. Dormant (inactive) units and enterprises that have completely left the Netherlands are excluded. The figures cover all enterprises that were active for at least part of the reference period and that remained active at the end of that period.