Randstad region and central part of the Netherlands attract many job seekers

In 2013, nearly 850 thousand people were less than one year active in their current job. Nearly a quarter of a million of these people were working outside their region of residence. This phenomenon is termed regional mobility. A survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands shows that a relatively high proportion of people employed in the Randstad region and the central part of the Netherlands are inter-regional commuters.

Greater Amsterdam and Haaglanden region in top ten
The Randstad region attracts many people seeking employment. More than 80 thousand people engaged in regional mobility found work in the labour market regions of Greater Amsterdam, Rijnmond, the central part of Utrecht and the Haaglanden region, where employment is highest. In Greater Amsterdam and the Haaglanden region, more than 35 percent of people who found work live outside these regions. These regions are in the top ten list. In the Rijnmond region, only 22 percent of people who found work were living in another region; in fact, many jobs were occupied by people living in the Rijnmond region. With 46 percent, the labour market region of Amersfoort had the highest proportion of workers living in another region.

Low regional mobility on the fringes of the country
Areas with a relatively low share of people who work and live in different regions are coastal regions or border areas. In these regions, mobile workers often have to cover long distances. The south part of the province of Limburg had the lowest proportion of workers from outside the region (9 percent). 

Financial services sector attracts many people from other regions
In the sector financial services, the amount of people who found work in one region while living in another region was relatively high (nearly fifty percent). The sector financial services employs many highly educated people who appear to be more prepared to travel for better employment options. In second and third place with respect to regional mobility are the sectors information and communication and business services. The sectors construction and hotels, restaurants, trade and transport are at the bottom of the list. In hotels and restaurants and trade, the number of part-time jobs with low hourly wages is relatively high. In such a situation, people are less prepared to travel over longer distances to reach their workplace. 
 
In the regions of Greater Amsterdam and Haaglanden, the sectors financial services, information and communication and business services are important. More than 40 percent of people who found work in these three sectors, lived outside the region where they worked. The corresponding figures for all regions together were 35 and 38 percent respectively.

Source: CBS