There is great despair at our neighborhood snack bar. ‘Will you come and work for us? Bonus: €250!’ The sign has been there for a few weeks. There is no service on the terrace further on, drinks can be collected at the bar, where one boy helps a long line. Friendly young people are running wild on the café-rich square where I live. Not one of them speaks Dutch, some barely speak English. They come from Spain, South America or Eastern Europe. On Monday, a catering entrepreneur told One today that he is even willing to pay the rent for Spanish workers. Because ‘closing costs me even more’.
What bad luck for the hospitality industry. Corona keeps quiet and the long, hot, thirsty summer invites – who can still afford it – to an exuberant terrace visit; tinkling glasses under a clear starry sky. And right now there is a hopeless staff shortage.
In the meantime, the shortages in healthcare, education, construction and ICT are not diminishing. Nor in childcare – that is where the problem bites itself ugly in the tail. The supermarkets are also begging for staff; the one in my neighborhood has life-sized the increased hourly wage on the window: more than 14 euros for an adult. Good idea, that raise, it was about time. How little it was before.
Where have all those people gone? Apparently there are more attractive jobs, including side jobs for young people. There are currently 460 thousand vacancies. The employment rate is high, more than 72 percent. Minister Van Gennip of Social Affairs rightly points out that more than one million people do not work, some of whom would like to. She also thinks that more people should get a permanent contract – 40 percent of the workers are self-employed or flex-worker. Moreover, according to Statistics Netherlands, there are 491 thousand ‘underused part-time workers’ – people who would like to work more hours.
Now start with that. Make more work more attractive. By paying better, and by giving people more control.
Permanent work should be more flexible and flexible work less risky. Being self-employed is not always a necessity or second choice. Not having a permanent contract would be less of a problem with reasonable rates and good disability and pension schemes.
Take a look at why people who are voluntarily self-employed have chosen this: they want to work independently, are free to choose the number of working hours and flexible in schedules and working hours. This freedom is crucial for people with children or carers; it saves them a lot of stress. Many people want to work from home more. One in three employees now does this for at least half the time, but according to a survey by FNV, only 4 percent of those polled think they have enough say. Good to know if you have vacancies.
Work should also be rewarding. If by working more hours, or by freelancing next to a job, you lose your rent allowance and childcare becomes more expensive, then you don’t do it. Is there finally a solution for this?
It is very complicated to repair the jammed labor market; I read that and I believe it. But many employers could do more to be attractive. That costs money and causes organizational hassle. Gone are the days when employers could choose.