Amsterdam, March 19 2026 – The latest Experis Tech Talent Outlook (ETTO) among 50 employers in the Dutch Tech and IT services sector shows a resilient market. Despite ongoing talent scarcity and the impact of AI, the majority of organizations expect to increase or maintain headcount in Q2 2026.
IT employers remain optimistic: more than half want to grow
The majority of IT employers expect to increase (54%) or maintain a stable (38%) workforce in the coming months. Only 6% foresee decline and 2% are still uncertain about their recruitment plans.
This brings the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) – the balance between employers who expect growth and employers who expect contraction – for the IT sector to 48%, 3 points above the global average. The growth is remarkably strong: +25 points compared to the previous quarter and +15 points year-on-year. The main driver for this increase is business growth.
85% can’t get the right skills
The labor market shortage (Talent Shortage Report, Q1 2026) is clearly reflected in the latest figures: 85% of IT employers are struggling to find talent with the right skills. In-demand tech skills include AI model & application development (41%), Engineering (38%) and traditional IT/Data skills (36%) in addition to AI literacy (36%).
On the soft-skills side, communication & collaboration (49%), professionalism & work ethics (41%) and adaptability & eagerness to learn (36%) are particularly required.
Overcome talent shortages with agility, development and technology
To continue to grow, 41% of organizations offer more location flexibility (hybrid/remote) and 36% actively invest in upskilling and reskilling existing teams. In addition, 26% are using Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and new talent pools to gain access to scarce talent. Salary increases (21%) and outsourcing of full positions (18%) are used additionally.
In addition, 71% use AI to source, onboard and train talent faster. Yet AI does not yet appear to be a panacea: only 10% of employers believe that AI does what they expect it to do. The main bottlenecks are limited transparency (15%), depth (13%) and privacy concerns (23%). However, organizations do see clear benefits of AI in learning and development (26%), and a majority expect AI to strengthen IT professionals in the next 12 months in areas such as problem-solving skills (73%), customer service (73%) and technical skills (65%).
AI is part of the HR strategy, but other levers also remain crucial.
Jos Slootstra, Managing Director Experis Netherlands: “The market wants to move forward, but the bottleneck is clear. More than ever, success depends on the ability to attract new talent, develop existing talent, and make smart use of AI applications. That’s how you make a difference in 2026.”
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About the Experis Tech Talent Outlook
The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS) is a comprehensive study that measures the hiring intentions of employers worldwide. It provides a preview of labor market trends by asking employers whether they plan to increase or decrease their workforce in the upcoming quarter. The Experis Tech Talent Outlook (ETTO) is a comprehensive report that provides insight into the job market for IT talent.
The survey has been conducted since 1962 and is considered a reliable indicator of labour market trends. The results help companies and employees to gain insight into the expected developments in the labour market.
About Experis
Experis, part of ManpowerGroup, is the global leader in professional IT resourcing, workforce solutions and talent development. Experis helps organizations build future-proof teams with the right mix of digital skills and human talent.
For more information, visit www.experis.nl or follow us on LinkedIn.
