Fewer workers changing jobs

© ANP / Peter Hilz
A total of 305 thousand workers changed employers in the second quarter of 2025. That was 3.8 percent of all employed persons. In Q2 of 2022, this was 4.7 percent. There were fewer job switchers among workers who had been employed for only a short time and those working in commerce, business economics or logistics. This is according to figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
In Q2 2022, the number of workers who changed jobs was much higher, at 358 thousand. That was when the tightness on the labour market was at its highest. Since then, the labour market has eased somewhat and the number of people changing jobs has also fallen.

Most workers who change employers have a flexible employment contract. For example, in Q2 2025, 62 percent of people who changed jobs were in flexible employment, and 38 percent were in permanent employment.


Fewer job switchers in roles in commerce, the business economy, and logistics

Compared to Q2 2022, the percentage of workers who changed employers fell in almost all occupational classes, with the exception of those working in services, agriculture and education. The decline was largest among workers in commerce (sales staff), the business economy and administration (receptionists), transport and logistics (drivers of cars, taxis and delivery vans).

Despite the decline, job switchers remained the most common in these occupational groups, and also in jobs related to agriculture and services. People who were in education were more likely than average to have a part-time job, particularly those working in commerce and services. Managers changed employers the least often.


Fewer job switchers among workers who had been employed for only a short time

In Q2 2025, workers who had been employed for only a short time were less likely to change jobs than in Q2 2022. However, these workers remain the most likely to change employers. Among workers who had worked for their previous employer for less than a year, 7.3 percent changed jobs in Q2 2025, compared to 9.4 percent in Q2 2022. Among workers who had been with their previous employer for one to five years, the share also declined, from 5.4 to 4.3 percent in the same period.


Quarterly figures on workers who changed employers are taken from the Labour Force Survey, conducted by Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Due to a change in this survey, the results on job switchers from 2021 onwards are not directly comparable with the results from before 2021. Administrative data from the Policy Administration for 2018-2021 show that the percentage of job changes in 2021 was higher than in 2020, but still slightly lower than in 2018 and 2019.