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The Netherlands in focus An old-fashioned view of the construction sector remains
A more uncertain hiring outlook. Just over a third (36%) of Dutch corporate respondents anticipate that the size of their workforce will increase in the next six months. However, more than a quarter (28%) anticipate a decline in the size of their workforce over the same period, compared to 18% globally. More respondents in the Netherlands indicate they would be downsizing rather than hiring for finance and accounting, legal, and skilled field work roles. students when assessing their career options, with 33% saying they are ‘very interested’ and 33% who are not interested at all. Part of this may be attribute to Gen Z’s outdated views of the industry: 80% think a job in construction requires physical effort, and 43% consider the risk of injury as one of the biggest drawbacks to working in the sector. Mixed perceptions on construction. Construction is the most divisive industry for Environmental expertise highly sought after. The skill with the largest anticipated future demand was environmental expertise: 40% of corporates expect to hire for this role in the next 6 months, while only 16% expect to downsize. However, students in the Netherlands typically overlook the importance of this skills: only 30% consider environmental expertise to be a relevant skill for the construction sector, compared to 51% of Gen Z globally.
01 Construction
Navigating the talent crisis 02 Employment growth
The construction sector is bouncing back following difficult years and heavy impact on profits 03 Gen Z Understanding what motivates the workforce of tomorrow 04 Closing the gap Aligning the construction industry with Gen Z’s aspirations 05 Proactively altering Gen Z’s perceptions Addressing the construction industry’s image problem 06 Refreshing the industry’s
Our construction research in the Netherlands spans 25 corporate respondents and 30 Gen Z respondents. Highlights from our research in the Netherlands include:
Dutch students less focused on work-life balance. While Dutch students place similar importance as their global counterparts on most factors when assessing their career options - prizing factors like respect in the workplace (43% cited as ‘essential’) and financial reward (40% ‘essential’) – they were less concerned about work-life balance (30% vs. 48% globally) and job security (30% vs. 43% globally) compared with their global peers. Social purpose is a key driver for Gen Z. Unlike in other markets, the third most important factor for Dutch students when assessing their career options is social purpose and doing something for the ‘greater good.’ (37% cite as ‘essential’). This is distinct from environmental concerns: only 10% of students in the Netherlands considered it ‘very important’ to pursue a career that positively impacts the climate, compared to 26% globally.
The economic conditions in the Netherlands are very complex. Due to rising interest rates, it is more difficult to obtain a mortgage for buying a house or office, and strict nitrogen restrictions make it increasingly difficult to obtain a building permit. Due to the large personnel shortages in all types of companies, it is expected that the Netherlands will not immediately enter a recession. However, it does mean that companies may not expand their workforce and may consider downsizing. We recognise the importance of hiring experts in the field of climate ourselves. This is driven by the fact that it can strengthen our competitive position but also by the upcoming legislation regarding CSRD. This does indeed present a great opportunity for students to embrace this topic and differentiate themselves from their fellow students.”
“In the Netherlands, we see a strong focus among job seekers on achieving a good work-life balance. While we have observed an increase in this trend, it is lower than in other countries. Given the shortage of staff across the entire industry, it is easy to find a first job or switch between jobs. Indeed, we have noticed that job seekers in the Netherlands, especially recent graduates, prioritise jobs that contribute to improving issues such as climate change or other societal challenges. Therefore, the low score on influencing climate change is noticeable. The background of students may play a role in answering the question. Practically educated students will actually work more on the construction site, while theoretical students will work more in an office. The outcome of this question shows that the industry still has work to do to change these perceptions.
approach to recruitment, retention and diversity
07 Conclusion
BDO’s message to Gen Z Practical lessons for construction executives Countries in focus
Australia Belgium Brazil Canada Latin America The Netherlands New Zealand Norway South Africa USA 09 About BDO’s research 10 How BDO can help
Michiel Wijnans Partner and National Construction Industry Leader, BDO in the Netherlands
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