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Lack of IT talent impacts Dutch companies: slowdown, burnout, and loss of competitiveness

Writer's picture: Our Remote EditorOur Remote Editor

The Dutch IT market is currently facing a scarcity of skilled employees, and many companies in the Netherlands are struggling to find enough IT talent. This lack of skilled professionals is causing a number of problems for Dutch companies.


  • Slow-down of the business. One of the main problems caused by the shortage of IT talent is delays in the development of new products and services. For example, a company that specializes in software development may be unable to meet a client's deadline because they do not have enough programmers to complete the project on time. This can result in lost business and damage to the company's reputation.

  • An increased workload for existing employees. Without enough skilled professionals to share the workload, employees are often forced to work longer hours and take on additional responsibilities. This can lead to burnout and high turnover rates, which can be costly for the company.

  • Becoming less competitive. The shortage of IT talent is also affecting the ability of Dutch companies to innovate and stay competitive. For example, a company that specializes in developing mobile apps may be unable to keep up with the latest trends and technologies, because they do not have enough skilled developers on staff. This can result in a loss of market share and profitability.



An example of a company impacted is ING Bank where they had to delay the development of a new online banking platform due to a shortage of IT professionals with specific skills, such as software development and cybersecurity. The delay resulted in a loss of business, as customers were unable to use the new platform. The delay also damaged the bank's reputation as a digital-savvy company.


Another company that has been impacted is Philips who had to cancel the development of a new line of smart home appliances due to a shortage of IT professionals with specific skills, such as IoT and embedded systems. The cancellation resulted in a loss of potential revenue, as the company was unable to bring the new products to market. Additionally, the company had to write off the costs of the research and development of the project, which was a significant financial loss.


Another example is KPN that had to delay the rollout of the new 5G network due to a shortage of IT professionals with specific skills, such as network engineering and software development. The delay resulted in a loss of business, as the launch of the network was delayed and it launched months later than the 5G network of competitor Vodafone. The delay also damaged the company's reputation as leading provider of cutting-edge technology.


The shortage of IT talent in the Netherlands is causing problems for Dutch companies, including delays in the development of new products and services, increased workload for existing employees, and difficulty in staying competitive in the global marketplace. Besides investing in education and training programs to attract and retain IT talent, an extra option for companies is looking across the border for augmentation of their understaffed teams with foreign senior-level remote workers.


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