More part-timers want to work, but shortages remain
CBS figures show that more labour potential is available, but it does not automatically match existing vacancies.
In the first quarter of 2026, 574,000 employed people wanted to work more hours and were available to do so. According to CBS, this amounted to an average of 8.5 additional hours per week, but employers cannot simply resolve all staff shortages with them.
CBS refers to this group as underemployed part-timers. The number was 40,000 higher than a year earlier. On average, they wanted to work an additional 8.5 hours per week, compared with 8.3 hours in the first quarter of 2025. These are people who already have a job but work fewer hours than they would like and are able to work.
A considerable proportion of the group are in education. Of the 574,000 underemployed part-timers, 273,000 were. For example, they may be looking for a larger part-time job or want to work more hours after completing their studies. Among employed people not in education, the number of underemployed part-timers with higher professional or university qualifications increased particularly sharply, from 120,000 to 145,000.
The figures coincide with a labour market where many employers still struggle to find staff. In its Regio in Beeld 2025-2026 report, UWV described approximately 510,000 underemployed part-time workers in 2024. According to UWV, the labour market remained tight to very tight, particularly in healthcare, education, childcare, security, engineering, construction and ICT.
Yet the unused labour supply cannot be deployed on a one-to-one basis. An employee who wants to work an additional eight hours does not necessarily live near a vacancy and may not have the required qualifications. Working hours can also clash. UWV identifies caring responsibilities, childcare, unfavourable schedules and physically or mentally demanding work as possible barriers.
The CBS figures also show that the labour market is becoming more spacious on both sides. The number of unemployed people rose from 407,000 in the first quarter of 2025 to 428,000 a year later. Together, the unemployed and underemployed part-timers amounted to 401,000 full-time equivalents of unused labour potential, compared with 370,000 a year earlier.
This creates a policy question that goes beyond calling for people to work more. Employers can try to extend schedules, redesign jobs and offer training. The government can support childcare, education and retraining. The figures do not prove that part-timers can easily switch to full-time work; they mainly show that willingness, availability and employers’ demand do not automatically come together in the same place.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- 574,000 employed people wanted to work more hours in the first quarter of 2026.
- On average, this amounted to 8.5 additional hours per week.
- According to UWV, many sectors are still facing labour shortages.
- Caring responsibilities, schedules, qualifications and skills can make working additional hours more difficult.
Left
Arguments The solution does not lie in pressuring part-timers, but in better pay, predictable schedules, affordable childcare and good employment conditions. Many people work less because of caring responsibilities or because employers do not offer suitable hours.
Values Livelihood security, equal opportunities, recognition of care work and protection against excessive workload.
Consequences Greater public investment and better jobs could increase labour-force participation, but they require time and money and would not immediately provide additional hours everywhere.
Centre
Arguments Employers, employees and the government should jointly examine where expansion is feasible. Flexible schedules, training and better alignment between vacancies and skills are likely to be more effective than a single general standard.
Values Practical feasibility, freedom of choice, labour-market balance and shared responsibility.
Consequences A combination of measures could gradually provide additional capacity without forcing people to do so; the result would vary by sector and region.
Right
Arguments The Netherlands has a high labour-force participation rate but relatively few hours worked. Work should therefore become more financially attractive, and schemes should not unnecessarily discourage people from increasing their hours.
Values Individual responsibility, economic growth, lower burdens and an efficient government.
Consequences More hours worked could ease shortages and collective costs, but without enough suitable vacancies and childcare, the effect would remain limited.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
All the central figures can be verified in the CBS publication and the UWV report. The text clearly distinguishes between available labour potential and staff shortages that can actually be resolved.
- confirmed In the first quarter of 2026, 574,000 employed people wanted to work more hours. — CBS calls this number underemployed part-timers. source
- confirmed This group wanted to work an average of 8.5 additional hours per week. — This is stated in the CBS figures for the first quarter of 2026. source
- confirmed 273,000 underemployed part-timers were in education. — CBS explicitly gives this figure. source
- confirmed The number of unemployed people rose from 407,000 to 428,000. — CBS compares the first quarter of 2025 with the first quarter of 2026. source
- confirmed UWV described approximately 510,000 underemployed part-time workers in 2024. — This is stated in Regio in Beeld 2025-2026. source
Editor's note
The figures and periods have been taken directly from CBS and UWV publications. It remains uncertain how many additional hours will actually become available to sectors facing shortages; the sources show willingness and labour-market pressure, not guaranteed staffing gains.Sources
- Meer deeltijders willen meer werken, gemiddeld 8,5 uur per week extra — Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek
- Regio in Beeld 2025-2026 — UWV
More on this in Dutch media
- NOS — „arbeidsmarkt deeltijdwerk”
- Het Parool — „arbeidsmarkt deeltijdwerk”
- de Volkskrant — „arbeidsmarkt deeltijdwerk”