Nearly 250,000 young employees in the Netherlands are seeking to increase their working hours beyond their current contractual limits, with more than two-thirds of workers under 30 expressing a preference for full-time employment.
The finding underscores a persistent mismatch between available labor supply and the rigid part-time structures that continue to dominate entry-level and early-career roles in the Dutch economy.
The data signals underlying labor-market tightness that could complicate wage negotiations and hiring strategies for companies reliant on flexible or junior staff.
When a significant portion of the under-30 workforce is constrained by part-time contracts or flex-bans, employers face a smaller pool of immediately available full-time talent, potentially driving up compensation demands for those who can transition to standard hours.
This development aligns with broader regional trends where young professionals are increasingly frustrated by precarious work arrangements.
Previous reporting has highlighted how workers in their twenties and thirties feel trapped in small contracts and flexible positions that limit their income stability and career progression.