Unemployment in Groningen continues to decline, with the UWV identifying hundreds of in-demand roles across sectors, while creative jobs face a squeeze due to AI.
The number of unemployment benefits in the province of Groningen fell again in June, showing an increasingly active job market. According to the Dutch Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), this is due to the ongoing shortage of workers across nearly all sectors. Job seekers now have access to approximately 230 "promising" professions in Groningen alone—roles with strong employment prospects and growing demand.
These opportunities span all levels and sectors, including technology, construction, healthcare, ICT, education, security, government, and hospitality. Roles range from low-barrier entry positions to those requiring formal training or certification.
Examples of entry-level roles include:
Warehouse workers
Kitchen assistants
Mail carriers
Cleaners
Food sales assistants
Meanwhile, skilled and certified professions in demand include:
Nurses
Teachers
Plumbers
Residential counselors
Energy performance advisors
Logistics professionals
Software developers
“These professions have proven to be stable and promising, and many are expected to remain in high demand,” says the UWV. Some newcomers to the list include professional soldiers, probation officers, and scaffolders.
AI Disrupts the Creative Sector
Not all professions are enjoying the same outlook. The UWV has flagged nine professional groups with limited job opportunities, many of which are being impacted by automation and artificial intelligence.
These include:
Copywriters
Translators
Graphic designers
Data entry workers
Photographers
Mailroom staff
Animal caretakers
Life coaches
Gift shop and household goods sales associates
The rise of AI has rapidly changed hiring needs, particularly for roles involving language, creativity, and repetitive administrative tasks. According to the UWV, vacancy numbers for creative and language-heavy professions have dropped significantly in a short time.
However, AI also presents opportunities in other fields, especially for jobs requiring digital literacy and critical thinking. These include:
Data analysts
IT specialists
Tech-focused roles in healthcare and industry
The full list of 230 promising professions in Groningen highlights the region's economic diversification and urgent need for talent. The UWV emphasises that this is not just a temporary trend, many of the roles listed have been consistently in demand for years, and are projected to remain so.
