The Adviesraad Migratie, the government's migration advisory body in the Netherlands, suggests the country needs a significant influx of foreign workers to manage the consequences of its

aging population. However, this solution faces practical limitations, leading to the need for alternative strategies, according to the council's recent report.

By 2040, approximately three million additional immigrants might be required to fill employment gaps and sustain tax contributions. Yet, considering the impracticality of this approach, the report highlights alternatives like extending working hours or delaying retirement among the existing population.

As the working-age population diminishes relative to retirees, the burden of financing collective services such as pensions and healthcare will intensify. To counter this, the council emphasizes the necessity of either augmenting immigration or increasing national work efforts.

The report's projections suggest that welcoming an extra 50,000 workers annually could equate to every employed individual working an additional ten minutes per week or extending the state pension age by 3.5 months. However, concerns arise for 2040 when an imbalance between job availability and the growing aging population might ensue, potentially leading to its own set of challenges, as noted by Monique Kremer, the council's chairwoman in an interview with NOS news.

Highlighting the contributions of highly skilled migrants, particularly those earning over €40,000 and possessing specialized skills like healthcare or technology, the council underscores their significant role in enhancing the nation's prosperity. Examples like ASML, a chip machinery manufacturer, demonstrate the dependence on foreign IT experts, subsequently creating employment opportunities for local administrative staff.

Nonetheless, the council warns that workforce shortages in certain sectors stem not only from insufficient labor availability but also from inadequate wages and working conditions, issues that cannot be resolved solely by importing workers from other countries.

Economist Paul de Beer notes that certain economic activities thrive due to the utilization of inexpensive foreign labor, indicating a symbiotic relationship between labor demand and economic growth.

Interestingly, despite the advisory body's recommendations, the ongoing discussions among the four parties forming a new coalition indicate a shared inclination to reduce the influx of foreign workers into the Netherlands. Photo by Stuart Caie, Wikimedia commons.