Zzp'ers working as store salesmen, childcare workers, teaching assistants, waiters or bartenders work in the Netherlands on average at the lowest hourly rates. They also have a relatively low scarcity indication, which predicts that the prospect of rate increases is limited. On the other hand, relatively few self-employed workers are active in these occupational groups, compared to the total of nearly 1.2 million. These insights were published in the Talent Monitor by HR service provider HeadFirst Group and labor market data specialist Intelligence Group.

Focus on labor market base

Enforcement of the DBA law recently received attention due to a report by the Court of Audit. The conclusion: the tax authorities are unable to combat false self-employment effectively. Marion van Happen, CEO HeadFirst Group: "The most acute problems with false self-employment occur at the base of the labor market, where hourly rates are low. We therefore look with interest at the MLT advice of the SER, which proposes to apply a 'legal presumption of employment' at a rate below the maximum daily wage (30,- to 35,- euros per hour)."

The Talent Monitor zooms in on this group of self-employed workers. It shows that painters and cleaners of construction works and construction workers of structural work have an average hourly rate of €30 or higher and are very scarce. They therefore have a rosy financial perspective in the labor market. Creative and performing artists are also scarce, although their average hourly rate is much lower at €23. Occupations that have a harder time include waiters and bar staff, domestic helpers and cleaners, childcare and teaching assistants and salespeople in stores. They work for an average hourly rate of €20 or less and the scarcity indicator is low. Relatively few self-employed workers are active in these occupational groups, totaling only a few tens of thousands. Hairdressers are an exception: we have more than 25,000 freelance hairdressers in the Netherlands, albeit working at an average hourly rate of €23.

Let entrepreneurs do business freely

In addition, the report shows that self-employed professionals with an hourly rate of €70 or higher are overrepresented in professional groups such as software and application developers and analysts, lawyers and doctors. Specialists in sports & fitness and traditional & alternative medicine are largely found in the €35 to €70 rate group. All are (very) scarce professions, which is generally reflected in rising rates.

Van Happen: "More than half of all self-employed people in the Netherlands have an hourly rate of €35 or higher. This large group of self-employed people who consciously choose to do business in freedom, have a strong negotiating position and are very satisfied with their working conditions should not be ignored. If the new cabinet focuses on appropriate measures for occupations with lower hourly rates, we can successfully move toward clarity for all self-employed workers and their clients."

The Talent Monitor "Zzp'ers: protect or set free?" is available for free download here.