The Dutch cabinet plans to begin actively recruiting highly skilled foreign workers in four core sectors: digitalisation and AI, defence and security, energy and climate technology, and life sciences and biotechnology.
The plan is part of a national talent strategy agreed by the cabinet on July 10. It names the four sectors as those where the Netherlands needs to safeguard its strengths as the population ages and skilled jobs go unfilled.
At the same time, the strategy says the Netherlands should reduce its reliance on lower-paid work often done by immigrants from central and eastern Europe in sectors such as meat processing and logistics.
The dual approach marks a shift from the previous government, which tried to reduce the number of foreign students and skilled workers coming to the Netherlands.
A change of course
The cabinet will join forces with public authorities and educational institutions to develop measures for the labour market, education, taxation, and migration. For internationals already here, the strategy leaves the “expat” tax break, the 30% ruling, in place, according to Financieele Dagblad.
Universities and colleges will also be allowed to recruit abroad again, and education minister Rianne Letschert has said English language education on offer will stay.
Letschert told the FD the government had work to do to repair the atmosphere of recent years, which she said had left some international students wondering whether they were welcome.
Boosting economic growth
The strategy aims to keep the economy growing by an average of 1.5% a year as the population ages and employers struggle to fill skilled jobs.
The four sectors were chosen partly on the advice of former ASML chief executive Peter Wennink and former European Central Bank president Mario Draghi, who wrote a report on European competitiveness.
The government is also looking at a pilot scheme to bring in skilled tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians, modelled on Germany, the FD said. Last week it confirmed a ban on agency staff in the meat industry, due to take effect in 2028, after widespread reports of exploitation.
Further detail will follow in letters to parliament, with a progress update on the whole strategy due at the end of 2026.
