Over four in 10 employers expect they will have more trouble finding staff, benefits agency UWV said on Tuesday.

Some 60% of these employers think this will lead to more pressure on other workers. The problem is particularly pressing in education and healthcare, an UWV survey among 6,700 companies found. In total 40% of vacancies are currently difficult to fill, compared to a third last year.

The increased workload for the remaining staff can be tackled in a variety of ways, UWV researcher Katinka van Brakel told the AD

‘Work could be divided differently, for example by having a lower skilled worker taking over some of the tasks of a more highly skilled care worker,’ she said. ‘But it all depends on the type of organisation.’

According to the UWV ,jobs remain unfilled because they require specific diplomas or certificates, relevant working experience and proficiency in Dutch.

For 64% of problematic vacancies employers put in extra effort, such as more extensive recruiting, offers of training and the use of intermediaries such as headhunters or job agencies. Two thirds of vacancies are filled in the end.

But prospective workers also need to brush up on their skills and learn new ones, the UWV suggests. ‘Keeping skills up to date will help make the job more future-proof,’ Van Brakel told the AD.