Collective labour agreement (CLA) wages in the Netherlands rose by 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2026 compared to a year earlier. Around three‑quarters of Dutch employees fall under a CLA.
Wage growth has been slowing since the third quarter of 2024, when wages were still increasing at a rate of 6.8 percent. Across 2025, the average increase came out at 5 percent. Despite the moderation, real wage growth remains positive for the tenth consecutive quarter. After adjusting for inflation, wages were 2 percent higher in the first months of this year.
Employees in the private sector saw the strongest wage growth, with an average increase of 4.9 percent. As in previous years, public‑sector employees received the smallest rise, averaging 3.4 percent.
The housing corporation sector recorded the fastest wage growth, with an 8.1 percent increase. Construction followed with a 7.2 percent rise. At the other end of the spectrum, wages grew the least in the water companies and waste management sector, at just 1.7 percent.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
