Local engineering professionals could be the key to the sustainability of various Dutch industry sectors, with Dutch companies increasingly looking towards South Africans to ease tension in the labour market.

The Netherlands faces a shortage of skilled engineering professionals (alongside other highly skilled professionals in fields such as finance and IT), which has the potential to significantly impact the country's growth. Engineers are in short supply across all disciplines, from electrical, chemical, and civil to mechanical, which has huge implications for the country's development.

In the first quarter of 2024, there were 110 vacancies for every 100 unemployed individuals in the Netherlands. As the tenth consecutive quarter in which there are more jobs than workers, more and more employers are looking to countries such as South Africa to find qualified professionals who can fill their vacancies.

Recent work published by five rectors of renowned Dutch universities has highlighted that the Netherlands is experiencing a shortage of engineers and scientific and technical professionals. They believe this problem will not be solved by relying solely on Dutch students and engineers. To meet this demand, the Netherlands must turn to international professionals and students. Nearly 25% of international students stay and work in the Netherlands after they graduate.

To address the need for skilled engineers, Ir Olav's Globetrotters – an international recruitment company specialising in connecting professional talent from South Africa with Dutch companies – has facilitated the relocation of more than 400 highly skilled individuals from South Africa over the years.

The team, which has more than 30 years of combined experience in international recruiting, will be attending the Electra Mining Africa event to help guide and inform professionals looking to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the Netherlands.

The number of highly skilled migrants who immigrated to the Netherlands from South Africa more than doubled year-on-year, from 900 in 2021 to 1 860 in 2022. The trend is unlikely to slow as employers look to entice skilled South African engineers to the Netherlands to decrease labour market tensions.

Ir Olav's Globetrotters managing partners Sonja Poortman and Diane van Galen Last believe that the increasing shortage of skilled engineers and technicians in the Netherlands is underpinning the growing number of knowledge migrants from South Africa. “Many,” says Poortman, “are taking up the excellent career opportunities and work-life balance that the Netherlands offers."

Van Galen Last adds: "We believe that the collaboration between Dutch companies and South African engineers is a win-win situation. Dutch companies gain much-needed expertise, and South African professionals get the chance to advance their careers and enjoy a high quality of life in the Netherlands.”