The Netherlands will soon face a shortage of skilled manual workers.

Thousands of tradesmen will go into retirement in the coming years and there are not enough young people learning a trade.

The Dutch Board for Skilled Trades wants more focus on the training of, among others, plumbers, paviours, hairdressers, carpenters and bakers. Fewer and fewer young people choose a profession which requires them to work with their hands.

In the provinces of Zeeland, Limburg, Drenthe, Friesland and North-Brabant it has become particularly difficult to fill this type of vacancy. The imminent shortage of skilled tradesmen there includes beauticians, hairdressers, opticians and dental technicians.

(gsh)

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