Many more people find jobs as early as during their asylum process
In 2024, four times as many people are working during their asylum procedure as last year. This is due to new rules introduced in 2023. Rogier from the Randstad employment agency sees positive changes in society that will allow you to get to work faster.
The number of working asylum seekers is four times higher than last year
In 2024, 7,370 people seeking asylum got jobs. That is four times as many as in 2023, when 1,840 people got jobs, as reported by the
This is all due to new rules introduced in 2023. This allows people to work more during their asylum procedure. Previously, they were only allowed to work 24 weeks a year. Due to this new rule, you are allowed to work as many weeks as you want, even if you do not yet have an asylum residence permit. This new rule has allowed many more people to work during the asylum procedure.
Many people find jobs through employment agencies
Data from the UWV show that it is often easier to find work through an employment agency than to apply to various companies yourself. Employment agencies not only help you find a job, but also arrange practical things for you. For example, employment agencies arrange the work permit you need to work. Employment agencies cannot help you if you do not have a
Randstad is 1 of the major employment agencies in the Netherlands that have experience in finding work for people in the asylum procedure. Rogier Schweitzer of Randstad explains: "The motivation to work is often enormously high among people applying for asylum," he says. "Sometimes extra help is needed, for example with language or cultural differences. That is why Randstad supports you and your employer to get started successfully."
Randstad has a special department that helps and supports refugees with:
Finding work: Randstad links you directly to employers.
Training: Some companies Randstad works with offer training to improve your skills or learn new ones.
There is a lot of work in hospitality, cleaning, logistics or engineering
If you are still in the asylum procedure, you usually start with an entry-level job. "For example, were you a lawyer in your country of origin? Then you cannot immediately start working in your field in the Netherlands," Rogier says. That requires additional training." That is why there are many opportunities in sectors such as hospitality, cleaning, logistics or production.
Randstad works with companies such as KPN, KLM and FrieslandCampina, which can also help you with training. For example, to become a mechanic. Doing training is not always possible for people who are still in the asylum procedure. Companies are more willing to arrange training for people who are certain they will be allowed to stay in the Netherlands longer.
Rogier sees positive changes on the job front
Rogier sees that more and more companies are open to employing people seeking asylum. "The topic is also being discussed more and more in politics and society," he says. "There really is a positive change going on."
Do you want to work and are still in the asylum procedure? These are the options:
Ask the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) if Randstad, Tempo-Team or one of the other employment agencies is active in your reception location. Multiple employment agencies support job searches at different locations. Tip from Rogier: "Always check whether the employment agency is affiliated with the ABU or NBBU, then you can be sure that the work you do is legal in the Netherlands."
Ask VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) if they can support you in finding a job.
Apply to several employment agencies.
Look online (for example, via LinkedIn) to see if employers in your area are looking for staff.