Reorganisations drive redundancies higher
UWV sees more reorganisations and a persistently high number of unemployment benefit claims, despite a labour market with many vacancies.
The number of reorganisations in the Netherlands rose by almost 40 per cent in 2025, according to UWV. At the same time, the number of unemployment benefit claims remained above 200,000 in the first quarter of 2026, while employers in many sectors continue to look for staff.
UWV cites reorganisations, bankruptcies and cost-cutting as important signals in the labour market. In 2025, the implementing agency received almost 40 per cent more notifications of planned reorganisations than a year earlier.
Most notifications came from companies in commercial services and the metal industry. A reorganisation does not automatically mean that all employees involved will lose their jobs. Employers must, among other things, follow the statutory order of dismissal and, where possible, look for suitable alternative work within the organisation.
At the end of March 2026, UWV recorded 202,100 unemployment benefit claims. That month, 21,700 new claims were added and 25,000 claims ended. The total was therefore lower than in February, but still above the threshold of 200,000 that had also been exceeded in January and February.
The figures show two developments taking place at the same time. Some companies are reducing their workforce because demand, profit expectations or financing are under pressure. At the same time, employees in sectors facing staff shortages can often find other work relatively quickly.
CBS figures for 2023 provide context for the reasons for dismissal. Of the 106,000 dismissals initiated by employers, 35 per cent had bankruptcy, cutbacks, reorganisation, an employment dispute or too few assignments as the main reason. These figures relate to 2023 and cannot be used directly as a current estimate for 2026.
For employees, it makes a difference whether a dismissal is individual or part of a reorganisation. In cases of redundancy for economic reasons, UWV permission is generally required and there is usually an entitlement to a transition payment. The longer-term consequences then depend on age, occupation, region and the possibility of finding work elsewhere.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- UWV reported almost 40 per cent more reorganisations in 2025.
- At the end of March 2026, there were 202,100 unemployment benefit claims.
- The labour market is experiencing both staff shortages and redundancies in certain sectors.
Left
Arguments Employees should not bear the full cost of business decisions and economic uncertainty. Stronger employment protection, training and income security can make the transition to other work fairer.
Values Job security, social protection and the distribution of economic risks.
Consequences Greater protection can limit loss of income, but requires higher contributions from the public sector or employers.
Centre
Arguments Companies must be able to adapt when demand and financial circumstances change, but dismissal procedures, redeployment and training must be applied seriously. The government can mainly support mobility between sectors.
Values A balance between room for businesses to operate, legal certainty and the functioning of the labour market.
Consequences Targeted guidance can shorten unemployment without unnecessarily holding back viable companies.
Right
Arguments Employers must retain room to adjust costs and their organisation; otherwise they will be less likely to hire people. Ultimately, employees benefit more from a dynamic labour market with rapid opportunities to switch jobs than from rules that artificially protect jobs.
Values Entrepreneurship, flexibility and individual responsibility.
Consequences Less rigidity can stimulate growth and new jobs, but requires employees to be genuinely able to find other work quickly.
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.
The current figures are attributed directly to UWV, and the older CBS figures have not been used as a current measurement. The legal context was checked with UWV.
- confirmed The number of reorganisation notifications rose by almost 40 per cent in 2025, according to UWV. — Mentioned in the UWV publication. source
- confirmed At the end of March 2026, there were 202,100 unemployment benefit claims. — Mentioned in the same UWV publication. source
- confirmed In 2023, 35 per cent of 106,000 employer-initiated dismissals had one of five stated reasons as the main cause. — Taken from the CBS analysis of 2023. source
Editor's note
The increase in reorganisation notifications and the number of unemployment benefit claims come from UWV. CBS figures are clearly marked as older context; no claim has been made that they reflect the current situation exactly.Sources
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