Among migrants in the Netherlands, there is a lot of untapped labor potential. This is according to the Advisory Council on Migration, which believes that potentially 331,000 migrants could find a job in the Dutch labor market.
The advisory body looked at what percentage of migrants have a job and what percentage of Dutch people without a migration background are employed. Among migrants, 67.7 percent have paid work, compared to 85.7 percent among Dutch people without a migration background.
If migrants worked as often as non-migrants, that would provide an additional 331,000 employees. This could fill many gaps in the labor market, as many companies are struggling with major staff shortages.
The advisory council classifies ‘migrants’ as people who were born abroad themselves and who have two parents for whom this also applies. People who were born in the Netherlands are therefore not included.
Unemployment is relatively highest among asylum migrants. People who have been granted asylum in the Netherlands and family members who come later make up almost half of the unused labor. Knowledge migrants are slightly more likely to be employed than Dutch people without a migration background. The longer people stay in the Netherlands, the smaller the gap becomes.
The advisory council says that they do not want to suggest that the migrants themselves are primarily responsible for their unemployment. “There is no doubt that (selection) mechanisms in the labor market, including discrimination by employers, also play a role.” Further research should provide more information about the causes of unemployment.
If migrants were to work as much as Dutch people without a migration background, “this would generate broad social benefits,” the advisory council predicts.
“Migrants will have a higher income and more well-being, employers will be able to meet their staffing needs more easily, and society will benefit from lower spending on social benefits and higher tax revenues.” One of the recommendations to the government is to invest in language proficiency.