Number of self-employed falls for seventh consecutive quarter
The number of self-employed people without staff fell again in the third quarter, while the number of permanent employees grew.
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The number of self-employed people without staff fell by 11,000 in the third quarter of 2026. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the number of such self-employed people has now declined for seven consecutive quarters.
Almost 1.5 million people had their main job as self-employed in the third quarter. Alongside the fall in the number of self-employed people without staff, the number of self-employed people with staff also fell, by 4,000. The number of employees with a flexible employment relationship fell by 8,000.
This was offset by growth in the number of employees with a permanent employment relationship. In total, 9.8 million people were in paid work. That was 13,000 fewer than in the second quarter, but according to CBS, the number of employee jobs increased by 16,000. The number of self-employed jobs fell by 2,000.
The figures coincide with stricter enforcement against bogus self-employment. The CBS publication describes the development, but does not establish what proportion of the fall is directly attributable to enforcement. Other factors may also play a role, such as demand for labour, rates, sectoral developments and workers’ choice to enter employment.
According to CBS, the labour market remains tight, but the pressure is easing slightly. The fall in the number of self-employed people alone does not show how many staff employers can find. In the third quarter, the number of hours worked by employees rose slightly, while the number of hours worked by self-employed people fell by 0.4 per cent.
The fall raises the question of whether companies are organising work differently, for example by replacing self-employed assignments with employment. For workers, moving into employment may offer greater security, but it can also affect income, autonomy and tax status. The CBS figures do not express a view on which form of contract is desirable.
The coming quarters may make it clearer whether the fall in the number of self-employed people without staff is a temporary adjustment or a lasting shift in the labour market. What matters is not only the numbers, but also the sectors in which self-employed people are disappearing and whether they return as employees.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The number of self-employed people without staff fell for seven consecutive quarters.
- The number of employees with a permanent employment relationship increased.
- The CBS figures do not prove what proportion of the fall is due to enforcement.
Left
Arguments Emphasises that employees need protection against bogus self-employment and that social security should not depend on a contract label.
Values Protection, collective security and the balance of power between the client and the worker.
Consequences Expects more permanent jobs and less insecurity, but warns that genuine self-employed people should not unnecessarily lose their autonomy.
Centre
Arguments Wants clear criteria and predictable enforcement, so that companies know when hiring self-employed people is lawful and workers retain freedom of choice.
Values Legal certainty, enforceability and a well-functioning labour market.
Consequences Emphasises that transitional arrangements and sector-specific guidance may be needed.
Right
Arguments Emphasises that entrepreneurship and flexibility are valuable and that the government should not discourage every self-employment arrangement.
Values Freedom of contract, entrepreneurship and limited regulatory pressure.
Consequences Fears higher costs and less flexibility if companies are forced to organise work as employment.
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 figures on self-employed people, employees and hours worked are based directly on the CBS publication. The possible connection with enforcement is explicitly not presented as a proven cause.
- confirmed The number of self-employed people without staff fell by 11,000 in the third quarter. — CBS reports this quarterly change. source
- confirmed The number of self-employed people without staff has fallen for seven consecutive quarters. — CBS explicitly mentions this sequence. source
- confirmed Almost 1.5 million people had their main job as self-employed. — Figure from the CBS publication. source
- uncertain Stricter enforcement is the cause of the fall. — The source provides no causal breakdown; the text therefore does not make this claim. source