Amsterdam: The Netherlands plans to reduce government jobs by around 20 percent over the next decade as part of an efficiency drive expected to generate €3.5 billion ($3.9 billion) in savings.
The government expects to cut approximately 25,000 full-time positions over the next 10 years. The proposed reduction is intended to streamline public administration and lower costs as authorities look for ways to make government operations more efficient.
Around 46,500 government jobs have been created in the Netherlands since 2018, increasing the workforce by approximately 40 percent. The latest proposal would reverse part of that growth, with the government aiming to reduce staffing levels over a longer period rather than implementing the cuts immediately.
Officials plan to present detailed proposals on how artificial intelligence (AI) could help achieve the workforce reduction by the first quarter of 2027. The plans are expected to outline how AI could support the efficiency drive, although the government has yet to provide specific details on how the technology will be used or which departments could be affected.
The announcement follows similar workforce-reduction targets set by previous Dutch governments. However, earlier efforts have not prevented a significant expansion of the public sector workforce in recent years, highlighting the challenge of achieving the new target.
The planned reductions form part of a wider push to improve efficiency and deliver substantial savings across government operations. The projected €3.5 billion saving is expected to be achieved over the coming decade. Further details on the implementation timetable and the role of AI are due by early 2027, as the government works towards its target of reducing the number of full-time public sector positions by around 25,000.
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