{"id":1917,"date":"2026-09-11T14:45:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T12:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fosfor.nl\/?p=1917"},"modified":"2026-08-31T11:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T09:31:55","slug":"calculate-the-weekly-cost-of-an-unfilled-vacancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fosfor.nl\/en\/kosten-onvervulde-vacature-per-week-berekenen\/","title":{"rendered":"Calculate the weekly cost of a vacant post"},"content":{"rendered":"

An unfilled vacancy can easily cost your organisation several hundred to over a thousand euros a week. You can calculate this amount by dividing the role\u2019s annual turnover or production contribution by 52 weeks and adding the hidden costs to that figure. The longer a vacancy remains unfilled, the higher the cost.<\/p>\n

As an employer in the engineering, manufacturing or logistics sectors, you\u2019re usually well aware of these costs, but you rarely work them out in detail. It\u2019s precisely this reverse calculation that reveals exactly how much money an unfilled post is costing you each week. In this article, we\u2019ll show you how to do this, using a specific example.<\/p>\n

On average, how much does an unfilled vacancy cost per week?<\/h2>\n

An unfilled vacancy costs on average between 500 and 1,500 euros per week, depending on the role, the contribution to turnover and the sector. For scarce technical and maritime roles, this figure is often higher, as every week without that skilled worker affects production or orders.<\/p>\n

That figure consists of two parts: the direct value generated by the role and the hidden costs arising from the position remaining vacant. In the case of a technician or operator, this translates directly into lost production hours. In the case of a sales role, it is reflected in lost turnover and customers switching to the competition.<\/p>\n

The labour shortage is exacerbating the problem. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the number of unfilled vacancies at the end of 2024 still stood at around 384,000 (CBS, 2025<\/a>). The UWV labour market tension indicator shows that the labour market for technical and logistics professions is among the tightest (UWV, 2025<\/a>). The tighter the market, the longer your vacancy remains unfilled and the higher the costs become.<\/p>\n

How do you calculate the cost of a vacant post?<\/h2>\n

You can calculate the cost of a vacant post in four steps: determine the annual value of the role, divide that by 52 weeks, add the hidden costs, and multiply by the number of weeks the post has been vacant. This will give you a weekly figure and a total amount.<\/p>\n\t\t

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