In addition to these new shortage occupations, there is still a shortage of electricians, machine technicians and nurses. There is a desperate shortage of these professions across the country. But logistics employees, plumbers and technicians are also difficult to find throughout the country.
It is important that people are found to fill these vacancies, says Wilthagen. “A shortage of people is also a form of crisis. It hinders economic recovery. If we don’t have the people, companies and organizations cannot provide the products and services they would like to provide.”
Wilthagen points to the schools that were allowed to open again after the coronalockdown: “Some schools remained closed because they had too few people.” For example, a shortage of personnel affects society as a whole, and that affects everyone.
More staff
There is no quick solution to this shortage of people. The shortage is a direct result of the population composition: the number of elderly people is increasing and the number of young people is decreasing. And attracting staff from abroad or retraining people takes time.
“There is no one-size-fits-all answer,” says Wilthagen. “Although as a part-time country we can start working more. That is the fastest solution, but then we have to make more work more attractive.”
Meaningful work
Career advisor Anda Jongkamp also recognizes this: “People are increasingly looking for meaningful work. That is really a different question than ‘is there work for me?'” Ingrid Nijkamp noticed during the corona crisis that remote management is not her thing. “I will now continue as a freelancer and manage my own affairs. I wouldn’t have done that two years ago.”
The shortage is becoming so strong that employees can start making demands. “That is a unique situation,” says Wilthagen. “Recently there was too little work for many people. Now it is the other way around: too much work for too few people.”
This map shows where there is demand for the various professional groups at the beginning of 2021:
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