The employment in the seafood processing sector in the Netherlands has shown fluctuations over the past decade. From 2013 to 2017, employment levels increased modestly after an initial decline. The year-on-year growth rates during these years varied, peaking at 3.17% in 2015 and dropping to -6.47% in 2018. Employment saw a slight recovery in 2020 but declined again in subsequent years. By 2023, the sector's employment stood at 1.99 thousand full-time equivalents. The five-year CAGR leading up to 2023 was -0.88%, indicating a general downward trend. Forecasts show this decline continuing, with a projected employment of 1.88 thousand FTEs by 2028, corresponding to a forecasted five-year CAGR of -0.96%.
Future trends to watch for include technological advancements in processing automation, which may impact employment; changes in consumer preferences towards sustainable seafood; regulatory changes post-Brexit affecting trade relationships; and potential impacts from climate change on fishing yields. Business strategies may need to adapt to these factors to maintain or boost sector employment.
