One in ten Dutch companies (11%) no longer offers entry-level positions due to the advent of AI. Even at companies that still hire entry-level positions, the impact of AI is clearly felt.

 

Currently, 38 percent are delaying the hiring of starters, while as many as six in ten (58%) expect to offer fewer starter positions within three years. This is evident from a large-scale international survey. research by IDC on behalf of Deel, the international payroll and HR platform, conducted by IDC among 5.500 decision-makers in 22 countries, including 200 respondents in the Netherlands.

Yet, despite these changes, companies are actively investing in retraining staff and adapting their recruitment strategies to ensure future talent supply.

At companies that are still hiring entry-level candidates, requirements are changing rapidly. Half of Dutch companies (50%) are now requiring more specific skills for entry-level positions. University degrees are losing their value: only three percent of Dutch organizations still consider a university degree a top priority for entry-level positions. Instead, increasing value is placed on problem-solving and critical thinking skills (22%), portfolios of previous work (20%), and practical experience such as internships (13%). However, this shift also presents new opportunities for candidates with practical experience and demonstrable skills, opening up alternative pathways into the job market.

This development does pose challenges. If AI takes over the majority of entry-level roles, 74 percent of organizations expect fewer opportunities for on-the-job development for junior employees. Three-quarters (76%) worry that it will become increasingly difficult to recruit and train future leaders. Dutch companies appear to be taking this challenge particularly seriously: this percentage is higher than the global average of 71 percent.

Besides the impact on entry-level positions, AI is being felt in virtually all Dutch organizations. More than nine in ten companies (92%) have experienced job changes or job losses. In 28 percent, positions have actually been eliminated due to AI implementation. To address this, 72 percent of Dutch organizations are investing in employee reskilling and upskilling, both company-wide (29%) and department-specific (43%). This is above the global average of 67 percent.

Eline Fruytier, Mid Market & Enterprise Manager at Deel: “AI is no longer emerging; it's already here in full force. It's changing the way we work and how companies operate. Entry-level positions are changing, and so are the skills companies are looking for. Both employees and companies need to adapt quickly. It's not about staying competitive, but about staying viable altogether.”

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Human Resources