{"id":8740,"date":"2026-01-08T11:53:36","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T11:53:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finance.gapstars.net\/?post_type=blog&p=8740"},"modified":"2026-02-23T16:04:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:04:10","slug":"benelux-finance-talent-shortage-a-hiring-problem","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/gapstars.net\/finance\/blog\/benelux-finance-talent-shortage-a-hiring-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Benelux Finance Talent Shortage: A Hiring Problem?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We ran a quick poll to find out what really keeps finance leaders up at night. And while we half-expected \u201ccompliance\u201d or \u201chiring speeds\u201d to top the list, 54% of you said finding good talent<\/strong>. Another 46% said retention<\/strong>. Zero votes for compliance. None for hiring speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So yes, it\u2019s another \u201ctalent shortage\u201d headline. But before you scroll past, let\u2019s talk about what\u2019s really going on in the Benelux.

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The Not-So-New Talent Dilemma<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saying there\u2019s a finance talent shortage in the Netherlands is like saying Dutch weather is unpredictable – it\u2019s been true for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 60% of Dutch accounting firms<\/strong> admit they\u2019re struggling to fill roles (Holland Times, 2025<\/a>), while a study by Bain & AmCham Netherlands found two-thirds of key business roles<\/strong> are already in short supply (Consultancy.eu<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, finance roles are evolving faster than ever: automation, BI tools, multi-entity reporting, compliance automation. But the hiring pipelines haven\u2019t really changed. The Institute of Management Accountants (Europe)<\/strong> found that three out of four finance leaders<\/strong> say their teams lack critical data analytics and tech skills (IMA Europe Report<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t a numbers problem; it\u2019s a fit<\/em> problem.


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\"Article
Image: Made with AI<\/em>

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Retention: The Plot Twist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even when companies find the right people, keeping them is another challenge. The same IMA study revealed that one in four accounting and finance professionals in Europe<\/strong> plan to leave their current employer within the next 12 months (IMA Europe Report<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Because younger finance talent (especially Gen Z and millennials) want more than paychecks. Millennial and Gen-Z finance professionals, who now make up most of the workforce, want flexibility, growth, and purpose. According to PwC\u2019s Global Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey<\/strong>, 71% of GenZ and 66% of millennials<\/strong> say they\u2019d switch jobs for better career progression (PwC Survey).

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What\u2019s Really Going On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the real tension we\u2019re seeing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n