Information Technology in the
Netherlands
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IT Labor Market |
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The Dutch government is currently investing heavily in Information Communication Technology (ICT) for professionals and students through tax allowances. In an effort to adopt ICT government initiatives, primary schools are networking schools through the Internet to integrate all of the students more effectively. Teachers are going to be educated in the use of school hardware and software applications. The goal is to have one computer for every 10 students and have ICT become as important to the education process as arithmetic and language teaching. Primary Education includes the study of the English language as part of the curriculum. In 1997 there were 169,000 University students enrolled in one of 13 Universities. The Netherlands offers many professional degrees in IT. Delft University of Technology offers a discipline in Systems Engineering Policy Analysis and Management. Eindhoven University of Technology offers a discipline in Section Information and Technology. Erasmus University Rotterdam offers a discipline in the Research Institute for Decision & Information Systems (EURIDIS). According to the latest statistics provided by the Statistics Netherlands, the registered unemployed in the Netherlands this past July and September numbered 176,000 people. Unemployment is currently on a downward trend especially according to long-term unemployment figures. According to quarter 2 statistics for 2000 the greatest surplus of jobs exists in the IT sector with nearly 85 vacancies per thousand jobs. The situation is improving moderately for in quarter 1, 100 vacancies per thousand jobs existed. According to Dr. Erran Carmel of American University, the Dutch are currently letting large numbers of Indian IT workers into the country to fill the IT job vacancies. “Labor costs in the Netherlands represent a large part of overall production costs. During the past 15 years, labor costs in the Dutch manufacturing sector have largely remained unchanged. The biggest threat to sustained growth is the possibility that wage increases may exceed three percent. In the short term this may translate in higher consumption and higher growth. But in the long run, higher wage costs are likely to erode the Dutch competitive position and result in falling exports. So far, there is nothing to indicate an impending wage explosion. Wage bargaining in 1999 yielded an average contract wage rise of 2.7 percent (from average 2.8 percent in 1998), while the average contract wage rise for 2000 is forecast to ease to well below two percent.”[1] One of the most important points about Dutch culture concerns the language skills of the Dutch people. The Netherlands is generally used as a gateway to the European markets. The Dutch usually speak English, German, and French and because of their location they are in a strategic position to provide the US with ideal business partner relationships.
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Back to The Information Technology Landscape in Nations page......
Last update:
December 18, 2000