The Dutch construction sector needs more than 70,000 new workers in the near term, according to De Telegraaf. The newspaper reports that extra competition for personnel is expected as the industry tries to fill those positions.
Coverage linked by the outlet puts the figure at roughly 73,000 employees sought. That total is made up of about 47,000 workers needed to replace people leaving the sector and a further 26,000 additional staff, according to AD.nl.
Reporting from RTL.nl and BNR also points to the construction industry competing with Defence for workers. NU frames the same pressure as a factor holding back housebuilding, describing a struggle for personnel with the defence sector.
The broader labour shortage in construction is expected to stay high, with competition from Defence cited as one reason, according to BNR, which attributes the assessment to EIB.
The reports, published on Thursday, 22 October 2026, describe a sector that must both replace departing workers and expand its workforce at a time when other employers are recruiting from the same pool.
What to watch next: whether construction firms can meet the recruitment target, and how the competition with Defence affects housebuilding plans.
