This is according to figures from Intelligence Group, a data specialist in the field of the labor market, and Headfirst Group, an HR group that mainly mediates in jobs in the tech sector. According to their joint talent monitor, the number of highly educated flex workers this year has fallen to around 860,000 for the first time in a long time.
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Despite that decrease, competition in conquering an assignment is increasing. “The playing field has changed,” says CEO Marion van Happen from Headfirst. “For clients it offers opportunities. They have more choice of professionals and therefore have more control. For professionals it means that they have to profile themselves more emphatically on a tighter labor market.”
100 euros per hour
The number of assignments has been showing a falling trend for some time. This increases the number of people who respond to an assignment. Since the first quarter of 2022, the number of reactions per assignment has tripled. Where the index was at 49 at the time, it rose to 152 in the first quarter of this year.
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Despite the decreasing demand, the average hourly rates have risen to record high this year. For the first time the limit of 100 euros per hour was broken. That is an increase of 9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2022 and of 2 percent compared to the same quarter last year. According to Geert-Jan Waasdorp of Intelligence Group, this shows that companies want to pay considerably for people who have specialized knowledge or who have a lot of experience.