Is AI coming for Government jobs? Netherlands targets 25,000 posts in major overhaul
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company’s and .
The Dutch government expects its efficiency programme to reduce the central civil service by about 25,000 full-time posts over several years. The plan aims to save €900 million in 2027 and €3.5 billion a year from 2035, according to an official statement issued on 26 October.
Artificial intelligence is one part of the programme. The cabinet has yet to publish its AI productivity targets or explain which tasks could change. The 25,000 figure is an estimate linked to the savings goal. Departments, roles, timing and the balance between departures and job cuts remain undecided.
The combines fewer and simpler rules with standardised IT systems, shared purchasing, reduced office space and changes to government services. It also proposes cutting the number of permanent advisory councils and commissions. Detailed plans for using AI to raise productivity are due in the first quarter of 2027.
State Secretary Eric van der Burg is coordinating the wider effort. The government says a multi-year plan will arrive within six months, while the spring budget will explain how savings are divided. Police and defence are excluded from the reductions.
The official announcement describes the impact as roughly 25,000 full-time equivalent posts spread across multiple years. It does not identify individual workers or give a department-by-department total. Reuters described the target as about one-fifth of government jobs, while DutchNews reported 16 per cent. The official statement gives no percentage, so the difference may reflect varying definitions of the workforce.
Reuters also reported that the Dutch government workforce has grown by about 46,500 jobs since 2018, an increase of 40 per cent. That expansion gives the cabinet a larger base from which to seek savings, although it does not show how easily particular services can lose staff.
The government says AI could help civil servants work more productively. No specific system, supplier, deployment timetable or measured saving has been announced. Public-service impact and safeguards around automated tools also remain open questions.
The next test comes in early 2027, when the cabinet is due to publish AI goals and savings plans. The headline figure should be treated as a long-term staffing estimate pending those details.
Click for more latest . Also get top headlines and from and around the at News9.
The News9live Tech Desk is a specialized team of veteran technology journalists and industry analysts dedicated to decoded the complexities of the digital age. Our mission is to provide the audience with accurate, timely, and deeply researched reporting on the innovations shaping our future. From the rapid evolution of Generative AI and critical cybersecurity updates to the hardware that powers our daily lives, we prioritize clarity and consumer advocacy in every story.
At News9live, we uphold the highest standards of journalistic integrity. Every report is fact-checked and vetted to ensure that our readers receive the most authentic and impactful news from the ever-changing world of technology.