{"id":1911,"date":"2026-09-10T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fosfor.nl\/?p=1911"},"modified":"2026-08-31T11:31:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T09:31:20","slug":"offshore-recruitment-and-shipyards-what-the-data-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fosfor.nl\/en\/recruitment-offshore-en-scheepswerven-wat-data-toont\/","title":{"rendered":"Offshore recruitment and shipyards: what the data shows"},"content":{"rendered":"

Recruitment for the offshore and shipbuilding sectors requires a data-driven approach, as it involves hard-to-find technical profiles who rarely apply for jobs proactively. Data from hundreds of campaigns shows that you can reach these professionals by recruiting in a region-specific and channel-specific manner, backed by a strong employer brand narrative \u2013 not with a standard job advertisement.<\/p>\n

Does this sound familiar? You\u2019ve had a welder vacancy open for months, applications are few and far between, and the pressure on your current team is mounting. In the maritime and offshore sectors, this is the rule rather than the exception. This blog shows what labour market data reveals about this niche and how you can use that knowledge to ensure a steady influx of top-tier talent.<\/p>\n

What does the data on recruitment in the offshore and shipbuilding sectors reveal?<\/h2>\n

Data shows that the offshore and shipbuilding sectors are among the tightest labour market segments in the Netherlands: technical roles have been at the top of the list of hard-to-fill vacancies for years. The crux of the matter is that demand for qualified skilled workers consistently outstrips supply, meaning that a passive job search approach does not work.<\/p>\n

The maritime sector is large and deeply rooted in the Dutch economy. According to the Maritime Monitor published by The Netherlands: A Maritime Nation<\/a> The sector provides employment for hundreds of thousands of people across shipbuilding, the offshore sector, hydraulic engineering and the supply industry.<\/p>\n

The downside is an ageing workforce. Many experienced welders, pipeworkers and ship\u2019s electricians are approaching retirement, whilst the influx of young talent is lagging behind. The UWV<\/a> systematically classifies technical and industrial occupations as shortage occupations (UWV, 2025).<\/p>\n

For you as an employer, this means you\u2019re not competing for the attention of applicants who just happen to drop by. You\u2019re competing for the attention of someone who already has a job and isn\u2019t actively looking for one.<\/p>\n

Why don\u2019t standard job adverts work in this niche?<\/h2>\n

Standard job adverts don\u2019t work because your target audience in the offshore and shipbuilding sectors consists largely of latent jobseekers: skilled workers with permanent jobs who will only switch jobs if they receive a significantly better offer. A list of vacancies on a job board won\u2019t reach this group, as they aren\u2019t actively looking there.<\/p>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
Would you like to find out more about data-driven recruitment?<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tDiscover how AI, target audience data and labour market insights can help you attract the right candidates. Download our white paper for practical insights, or feel free to get in touch for advice tailored to your organisation.<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload white paper<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGive us a call<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t