The demand for migrant workers in the Netherlands will further increase in the coming years due both to economic growth and ageing population, according to a research report released on Tuesday by SEO Economic Research of the University of Amsterdam.

More migrant workers will be needed especially in agriculture and horticulture, business services, logistics, wholesale, the food industry and the metal industry, according to the research commissioned by the employment agency umbrella organisation ABU.

In 2016 there were 371,000 labour migrants from central and Eastern Europe in the Netherlands.

They filled almost five per cent of Dutch jobs and contributed 11 billion euros to the national income.

In addition, migrant workers mainly do low-pay and routine jobs, for which no Dutch workers are available.

Without their input, Dutch firms would be forced to move or adapt their operations, said the research report.

Therefore the employment agency called for more efforts at good reception for migrant workers, with good affordable accommodation as a major issue.

There is currently a shortage of 100,000 accommodation spaces for workers from Eastern Europe, according to ABU. (Xinhua/NAN)

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