One quarter of companies are understaffed

Staff shortages have been an issue for companies for some time now. A quarter of all companies still experience obstacles to carrying out business activities due to labour shortages. At the beginning of the third quarter of 2019, this was the most frequently reported issue. Business confidence fell slightly to 10.6, but entrepreneurs remain positive. Statistics Netherlands, the KVK and other organisations report this.

Since mid-2018, about a quarter of the non-financial business sector has had a labour shortage. This did not change much at the beginning of the third quarter of 2019. Despite the facts, 12 percent of these entrepreneurs expect to be able to increase their workforce. This percentage is lower than last year, when 18 percent predicted an increase in the number of employees. 

Business services

Approximately 35 percent of the business services sector suffers from labour shortages. In the transport and storage sector, this is 32 percent. The sectors information and communication, catering and construction also have a higher than average percentage. In the mining and quarrying sector this is only 5 percent. 

Entrepreneurs positive

Despite the fact that business confidence is 1.4 points lower than in the second quarter of 2019, sentiment among entrepreneurs is still positive. The voting indicator is well above average since the start of the measurement in 2008.