There is a glaring shortage of technical workers. Whether you have a home improvement project or run a high-tech company, the people simply aren’t there. Is that because the Dutch prefer office jobs? Can this trend be reversed? And how big and urgent is the problem? There’s good, bad, and ugly news. “Half of the technical programs at the VMBO level are at risk of closing in the long term.”

During the COVID-19 crisis, the term “essential profession” came into use. Without healthcare, education, supermarket deliveries, and trash collection, society would grind to a halt. At that time, technical workers were often not labeled as “essential.” But anyone who now—without the pressure of a pandemic—looks at who keeps our prosperous society running cannot overlook technical professionals.

They are the ones who keep the pumping stations running and the Netherlands dry. They are the ones who must supply power to new homes. They are the ones who made it possible for a Dutch company to invent and build one of the most complex machines in the world: ASML’s EUV machine. Technicians keep the chaotic IT systems of many small and medium-sized businesses and multinationals running. They repair your car and fix your sewer problem.

The Good News

The Netherlands can’t function without technicians. Nearly 2 million people in the Netherlands work in technical fields, accounting for 19% of the total workforce. Yet there have been reports of major shortages for years. Finding “skilled workers” is becoming increasingly difficult. So are the Dutch increasingly opting for an easier office job? Would they rather manage than do math?

At first glance, that doesn't seem so bad. Or rather: things are going really well. Because ten years ago, there were far fewer technicians on the job: 1.5 million, according to figures compiled by Statistics Netherlands.

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