Increased labour participation among asylum seekers strengthens integration in the Netherlands

Recent developments in the Netherlands show a significant rise in the number of asylum seekers entering the labour market. According to a NOS report, in the first half of 2023 approximately 700 work permits were issued, while in the same period of 2024 this number rose to 9 500. This increase follows a Council of State ruling that removed the previous restriction limiting asylum seekers to 24 weeks of work per year, allowing them to work year-round under a work permit. 

Pilot projects by the Dutch Employment Services (UWV), the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and municipalities have helped to connect asylum seekers with employers. These initiatives aim to provide newcomers with practical work experience while supporting their social integration and to address staff shortages in the Netherlands. Asylum seekers report that employment contributes positively to language acquisition, social contact, daily routine and psychological health, all of which further promote integration once asylum has been granted.  

According to Jaco Dagevos, researcher at the Social and Cultural Planning Office (SCP), having the right to work year-round makes asylum seekers more attractive as potential hires to employers: “instead of hiring labour migrants [from abroad], employers may now more easily choose an asylum seeker already in the Netherlands”. 

This aligns with recommendations from a July 2025 government study on labour migration, which advises better utilisation of the skills and potential of asylum seekers already in the country to reduce the need for labour migrants. The study warns that an increasing number of foreign workers can add pressure to the housing market and other social services. 

These developments fit within the Dutch government’s Action Agenda for Integration and an Open and Free Society, which emphasises employment and language proficiency as key conditions for successful integration. The agenda includes measures such as the introduction of “start jobs” for refugees and women migrants with other permits, aimed at enabling early entry into the labour market.