On March 27, AmCham hosted an event with its Human Capital Committee, “The Labor Market in 2026 & Beyond”. The event offered a space for AmCham Members to discuss the current issues facing the labor market in the Netherlands, the impacts of these issues, and learn the thought process behind the current laws being designed. The event aimed to address a central question, in terms of labor, how can we keep organizations future-proof?
While the Netherlands remains an attractive place for workers and investors, there are labor shortages across the country in almost all sectors. Tuncay Uyanik, Director of Labor Relations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, provided insight into how the government is currently operating in terms of labor issues. He stressed that as regulations aim to decrease the flexibility of the working environment, investing in lifelong learning has become essential.
Arjan Heyma, Head of Labor & Education Practice and Deputy Director at SEO, dove further into the current labor makeup in the Netherlands, pointing out issues and providing solutions to address them. Strong base education, combined with skilled development and internal mobility in the workforce, will serve as a strategic advantage to both companies and industries, ensuring they have the skills and workforce needed to thrive. Both speakers addressed actions that governmental and corporate entities can take to increase resilience, including the need for lifelong learning, clear migration policies, increased and facilitated innovation, and choices that allow high-productive sectors to grow. Following the presentations, guests were invited to ask questions to a panel of experts, including Caroline Tervoort, Partner at KPMG, Camiel Selker, Global Chief People Officer & Chief People Office Europe at Optiver, Arjan Heyma and Tuncay Uyanik.
