The Netherlands is looking for South Africans with these skills

The Netherlands has a significant shortage of healthcare and engineering professionals, and it’s looking to South Africa to fill this gap.

The demand is high enough for a new recruitment company in South Africa, Beaver Recruitment SA, to help recruit and train South Africans to work in the Netherlands.

Managing director of Beaver Recruitment SA Nicholas Avramis told BusinessTech that the demand for South Africans is growing, especially for healthcare professionals.

Avramis said demand for South African skills in the Netherlands is not new. This is evident in the number of South Africans living there, which has grown significantly over the years.

He highlighted that an estimated 41,300 South Africans live in the Netherlands, a sharp increase from the country’s reported 21,878 in 2018.

This includes many highly skilled professionals, such as engineers, medical professionals, and individuals working in IT and finance.

Avramis highlighted why South Africans choose the Netherlands: the country offers world-class healthcare facilities, competitive salaries, and a fantastic work-life balance.

In the Netherlands, career opportunities are high due to critical shortages and the proactive intentions of the government and businesses to fill the gaps.

Avramis said that the Dutch government offers a 30% tax exemption for highly skilled migrants, a significant draw factor, while Dutch professionals typically work around 35 hours per week.

The country’s immigration policies are also designed to be welcoming, with relatively straightforward work permits for skilled professionals.

These benefits are often noted by skilled South Africans as a push factor locally, with many struggling to find jobs, career growth, and salary increases.

Avramis added that nine out of 10 applicants to his company flag a lack of employment as their main reason for looking for opportunities abroad, with the majority in the healthcare sector.

Recruitment drive for healthcare professionals

With the high demand for skilled healthcare workers worldwide, Avramis said his company had been mandated to recruit South Africans skilled in several health professions as its top priority.

These professions include nurses, midwives, gynecologists, maternity nurses, sonographers, and mental health nurses.

He also noted that the salaries for these skills generally range from €35,000 to €50,000 per year (R742,300 to just over R1 million).

Dutch companies he is recruiting for have also prioritised Afrikaans-speaking South Africans due to the ease with which they can integrate with the Dutch language.

Looking at the cities in the Netherlands, which are home to the largest portion of skilled South Africans, urban centres are particularly popular due to their vibrant job markets and high quality of life.

According to immigration experts, these main cities include Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and Eindhoven.

“Many South African healthcare workers are looking for stability, career progression, and a better quality of life,” said Avramis.

“The Netherlands provides all of these, and our team is committed to guiding them every step of the way, from job placement to visa applications and cultural integration.”

“By specialising in connecting healthcare workers, engineers, and tech professionals with Dutch employers,” Avramis added.

“The primary mission of the new recruitment firm is to bridge the gap between South African talent and the needs of these employers.”

Beaver Recruitment SA is currently accepting applications from qualified South African nurses and healthcare professionals who are interested in working in the Netherlands.

Avramis highlighted that interested candidates must have a valid South African Nursing Council (SANC) registration and be willing to complete Dutch language training.