Collectively agreed wages rose by 4.0 percent in the third quarter

Wages earned by people covered by a collective labor agreement rose by 4.0 percent in the third quarter of 2026. In the third quarter of 2025, the increase was still 4.6 percent. After adjusting for inflation, wages are 0.8 percent higher.

The largest wage increase was recorded in the third quarter of 2024, when wages rose by 6.8 percent. Since then, wages have been rising more slowly. Statistics Netherlands (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, CBS), the national statistics office, published these figures.

The differences between sectors are small. In 2026, wages rose by 3.9 percent in the public sector, 4.0 percent at subsidized organizations, and 4.1 percent at private companies. Last year, the differences between the sectors were still greater.

Wages are rising faster in some sectors. Wages rose the most in specialized business services and construction, increasing by 5.0 percent. In financial services, wages rose by 4.9 percent.

Wages rose the least in hospitality, by 2.9 percent. In information and communications, the increase was 3.1 percent, whereas this sector recorded the largest increase last year. After adjusting for inflation, wages are 0.8 percent higher than they were a year ago.

This figure may still change because inflation for September 2026 is not yet known. For now, wages have risen in twelve consecutive quarters. The figures are based on 91 percent of all collective labor agreements.

Approximately 75 percent of employees are covered by a collective labor agreement.