More layoffs for business-economic reasons, less often because of a new job

In the Netherlands, an average of 618,000 people between the ages of 15 and 75 lost their jobs each quarter in 2025. In 2022, the figure was higher still: 677,000 people. Sometimes employees choose to leave themselves, while in other cases their employer makes the decision.

During that period, it also became slightly more difficult to find work. Many people say they left because they found another job or wanted to start their own business. This happened less often in 2025 than in 2022: the percentage fell from 42 to 38 percent.

More people lost their jobs for business-economic reasons, such as problems at the company. In 2022, business-economic reasons accounted for 5 percent of layoffs; in 2025, the figure was 8 percent. People also often left because their temporary contracts expired; this was the case for 15 percent.

Sometimes companies have to lay people off because of bankruptcy, spending cuts, organizational changes, or conflicts at work. Bankruptcy was the main reason for only a small number of people. In 2025, this was the reason for 2 percent, compared with 1 percent in 2022.

More people lost their jobs because of spending cuts, reorganization, or a conflict: the percentage rose from 4 to 6 percent. People with flexible contracts in particular are often laid off when their contracts end. Among the 341,000 people with flexible contracts who lost their jobs, the contract had simply expired in 23 percent of cases.

For permanent contracts, the likelihood of the contract ending is lower. In 2025, business-economic reasons accounted for 5 percent of layoffs among people with flexible contracts, compared with 14 percent among those with permanent contracts. Employees with flexible contracts are often younger.

More than half of the people laid off for business-economic reasons were no longer employed one quarter later. After being laid off for such a reason, 32 percent were unemployed and 21 percent were no longer part of the labor force. Together, this means that 53 percent no longer had a job.

When people left because their temporary contracts ended, the percentage was even higher: 57 percent. For other reasons, the figure was lower: fewer than 37 percent were then without a job. When people who have been laid off find work again, it is usually with a flexible contract.

In 2025, 47 percent had a flexible contract after being laid off, 9 percent obtained a permanent contract, and 3 percent started working as self-employed people.