The Netherlands is losing out on attracting IT companies because of a shortage of trained workers, the Telegraaf reports on Monday.

The paper points to software company Unit4 which cutting 300 jobs in the Netherlands by transfering work to Spain, Poland and Portugal. ‘It’s much easier to find trained IT staff in those countries,’ Benelux director Bert van der Zwan told the paper.

Sector organisation ICT Nederland says it is ‘worrying’ that companies are deciding to set up their research and development centres in other countries because of the shortage.

It wants the education system to take greater account of this jobs market and to offer courses that will ensure youngsters are able to take up these jobs.

Last year, there were 34,000 vacancies in the IT sector, while the number of youngsters graduating in the subject was in the hundreds, the Telegraaf says.