According to preliminary figures acquired by NU from employers’ association AWVN, in the first six months of 2022 Dutch salaries rose by an average of 3,1 percent - the highest increase recorded in the Netherlands in over 20 years. 

AWVN: Dutch salaries record biggest increase in 20 years

In May of this year, people with jobs in the Netherlands saw their wages rise by an average of 3,8 percent, largely due to the economic growth seen in early 2021, the ongoing labour crisis, and rising prices across the country. The same growth rate was recorded in June, meaning that workers have seen incomes rise by an average of 3,1 percent so far this year. 

"We are going towards that 4 percent. But whether we are going to achieve that?” an AWVN spokesperson asks. “That would be historic."

Rising salaries unable to keep up with high inflation

Wages have been rising steadily since early 2021, and all year AWVN has reported that salaries agreed upon in collective labour agreements were rising at unprecedented rates, but that wages in the Netherlands were still not keeping pace with the high inflation rate. 

"It is unthinkable that the wage increase will compensate for the price increases," the spokesperson explained to NU. "That pain is divided among three parties: the employers, the employees and the government."