Half of Dutch Workers Skip AI Training Despite Job Market Revolution

2026-02-22 data

Amsterdam, Sunday, 22 February 2026.
Nearly half of Dutch workers ignore available reskilling opportunities as artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the workplace, creating a dangerous preparedness gap. While 80% of labor agreements include training provisions and sector-specific development funds exist, cultural barriers and lack of future vision prevent uptake. Experts warn this could leave workers vulnerable to displacement, despite AI adoption accelerating across Dutch industries with 24% now using generative AI frequently—triple the rate from 2023.

Cultural Barriers Block Worker Adaptation

The disconnect between available training resources and worker participation stems from deep-rooted cultural issues within Dutch society. According to a spokesperson from employers’ association AWVN, the fundamental problem lies in workers’ inability to envision their future career paths [1]. “People have no idea what they want to do in the future. That’s why reskilling is so difficult,” the AWVN representative explained on February 21, 2026 [1]. This cultural barrier is compounded by insufficient support infrastructure and guidance systems, creating a perfect storm of inaction despite the urgent need for workforce transformation [1].

AI Adoption Accelerates While Awareness Lags

The speed of AI integration in Dutch workplaces has dramatically outpaced worker preparation efforts. RaboResearch analysis published on February 18, 2026, revealed that frequent use of generative AI among Dutch workers surged from 9% in 2023 to 24% by early 2026 [5]. This represents a 166.667 percentage increase in just three years, highlighting the rapid pace of technological adoption [5]. DNB economist Maarten van Rooij confirmed that approximately half of all Dutch workers now use AI in their professional capacity, utilizing it daily or weekly for routine tasks such as summarizing documents, creating presentations, and translation work [2].

Sector Disparities Reveal Uneven Preparation

The implementation of AI technology varies dramatically across Dutch industries, creating uneven exposure to both opportunities and risks. Financial services and ICT sectors lead in technology adoption, with workers in these fields reporting intensive AI use and expecting significant impacts on their tasks and careers [5]. In stark contrast, healthcare and agriculture show lower technology adoption rates, while the hospitality sector presents a particularly concerning scenario where limited technology use coincides with high expectations of job redundancy [5]. This pattern suggests that technology in hospitality is often perceived as a direct replacement for human labor, exemplified by ordering kiosks and QR code systems [5].

Expert Warnings and Economic Implications

Leading economists and business leaders are sounding increasingly urgent alarms about the Netherlands’ preparedness for AI-driven economic transformation. Ingrid Thijssen, outgoing chairman of VNO-NCW, warned in recent statements that the Netherlands remains insufficiently prepared for AI’s consequences on the labor market [3]. “Companies can offset rising costs through reorganizations, but AI development continues and that will be really intense,” Thijssen stated, adding that “this doesn’t mean we’re too late, but something really needs to happen” [3]. The economic stakes are particularly high given that approximately 40% of work in the Netherlands consists of routine tasks, with cognitive routine work being especially vulnerable to AI applications [5]. Despite these warnings, KPMG research published in February 2026 maintains that AI will serve as a productivity growth engine rather than a job destroyer, noting that more than one-third of European companies already use AI in their operations, with the Netherlands ranking among the leaders in AI integration alongside Finland and Denmark [7].

Bronnen

workforce transformation AI awareness