Asylum seekers find paid jobs faster and more often in the Netherlands

New figures from the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) reveal a positive trend in the Dutch labor market: status holders, individuals granted asylum in the Netherlands, are securing paid employment with increasing speed and frequency. This development marks a significant shift from ten years ago, indicating greater integration into the workforce.

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Status holders have found paid employment more often and increasingly faster in the last ten years.

The data shows a dramatic increase in employment rates within the first three months of receiving a residence permit. In 2024, 13 percent of status holders aged 18 to 65 found work within this timeframe, a stark contrast to the mere 1 percent recorded in 2014. Furthermore, the long-term employment outlook has also improved, with a higher proportion of status holders employed after three years compared to previous cohorts.

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Of the group between 18 and 65 years old who received a permit in 2024, 13 percent had found work within three months.

Initially, many status holders enter the workforce through flexible arrangements, often as temporary agency workers or in the hospitality and retail sectors. However, as they become more established in the Netherlands, their employment becomes more stable, with a larger percentage moving into permanent positions. While the CBS does not offer a specific explanation, government policies aimed at facilitating employment for refugees, including subsidies for employers, are likely contributing factors. The upcoming relaxation of rules for asylum seekers, allowing those with promising applications to work sooner, is also expected to further boost these numbers.

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Ten years ago, this was only 1 percent.