The number of vacancies in primary and secondary education fell by 5,000 in the 2024/25 school year compared with the previous year. In contrast, demand for new staff increased in vocational education (MBO) and special primary education, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
Across the education sector, there were 24,000 full‑time vacancies last school year, a decrease of 1,000 from 2023/24. CBS suggests this decline may partly reflect smaller recruitment budgets.
Vacancy numbers rose only for economics teachers in secondary education, with a 17 per cent increase. “That could be because pupils are choosing more specialised subject profiles,” said Peter Hein van Mulligen, chief economist at CBS. “Or perhaps many teachers have left or retired, creating more vacancies.”
Although the teacher shortage eased in 2025 compared with the previous year, the Ministry of Education expects shortages to rise again in the coming years, partly because many teachers are reaching retirement age. Van Mulligen noted that teacher shortages and vacancies are “connected vessels”, but said the figures do not show whether the lower shortage is linked to reduced vacancies. “It could also be that schools have stopped recruiting because it no longer seems worthwhile,” he said.
The figures follow a wider trend of declining vacancies across most sectors. “Only in healthcare are vacancies still increasing,” Van Mulligen added.
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