Provinces and municipalities show a clear shift, while central government is also seeking a new balance between permanent and flexible capacity. Hoofddorp – Provinces and municipalities are using external professionals differently than they did several years ago. The share of self-employed professionals and seconded professionals fell from 13 percent in 2022 to 7 percent in the second quarter of 2026. A shift also appears to be visible in central government: after several years of growth, the share of externally hired professionals has been declining since mid-2025. This is according to the latest edition of the Talent Monitor, a joint publication by HR tech service provider HeadFirst and labour market data specialist Intelligence Group.

Growth in permanent employment reduces the share of external professionals

This sets the energy sector apart from the broader trend, in which companies are hiring fewer external professionals. In the energy and utilities sector, demand for self-employed professionals and secondees remains stable, while the number of assignments is even increasing slightly. At the same time, their share of the workforce fell from nearly 25% to 11% over the same period, a reduction of more than half. This development is mainly explained by the strong growth in the number of permanent employees in recent years. Shorter assignment durations may also contribute to this trend.

 

Lowest hourly rate of all sectors studied

The average hourly rate in the energy and utilities sector is just over €97, making it the lowest of the five sectors studied. However, there are clear differences between occupational groups. Managers in business and administrative services earn an average of €110.49 per hour, database designers and administrators €109.24, and business and organisation consultants €108.17. Software developers earn €97.80 per hour, almost exactly in line with the sector average. By comparison, the central government sector, which offers the highest rates in the study, has an average hourly rate of more than €111.

 

Energy sector attracts professionals considering permanent employment

The growth in permanent employment aligns with what professionals themselves report. Among self-employed professionals in the energy and utilities sector, 23% are open to moving into permanent employment. This is a higher proportion than in any other sector studied. Professionals considering a move to another sector are particularly interested in the chemical industry, ICT and consultancy. These sectors have strong demand for similar technical and specialist expertise. The challenge in the coming years is to attract talent and retain the specialist knowledge needed to keep the energy transition moving forward.

Bastiaan Moll, Energy Sector Director at HeadFirst, sees what this means in practice for clients across the sector. “Energy companies are working on challenges measured in years, not months. From grid expansion to sustainability, these projects require knowledge that stays within the organisation, alongside expertise that can be brought in at exactly the right moment. Permanent teams have grown rapidly in recent years, and the focus is now on retaining and strengthening them. At the same time, we see uncertainty around the rules for self-employed professionals driving greater demand for secondment under permanent employment contracts. External professionals are increasingly brought in to address specialist challenges where speed, experience and expertise come together.”