13 November 2020
The number of professionals with freelance contracts is still growing in the Netherlands despite the political uncertainty. The number of freelancers was 1.16 million last quarter 3 of 2020. This was still 862 thousand in 2010, an increase of 34.5%. It is striking that the number of employees with permanent contracts also rose to 5.73 million in a decade. A number that is 2.9% higher than the number of 'permanent employees' of 5.57 million in 2010. It is also striking that in both crises, 2010 and 2020, the number of permanent employees is the highest in the period 2010-2020. If the number of people with a self-employed contract has not decreased, how can the number of permanent employees increase?
+2020-11-13+om+13.18.29.png "Trends aantal vaste en flexcontracten en zelfstandigen Q3 2020")
One reason for the higher number of permanent contracts is the decrease in people with 'no fixed hours contracts' compared to the highest point in 2018. However, at 329 thousand, the number of 'no fixed hours contracts' is still no less than 12.7% higher than the 292 thousand in 2010. A similar trend can be seen in the number of on-call/incentive workers; sharply up to 2018 and bending back again.
.png "Trends aantal flexcontracten naar type Q3 2020")
As the number of temporary agency workers fell by almost 8% from 215 thousand in 2010 to 198 thousand in 2020, the number of permanent employees may have increased instead. However, the main reason for the growth in the number of people in 'permanent employment' seems to be that the total number of people who can participate in the labour force has risen from a total of 8.3 million to 8.935 million in 2020, an increase of 7.6%.