More jobs for people with disabilities: government plans to reach 125,000 targets in The Netherlands

Employers created 91,800 additional jobs for people with disabilities between the start of the jobs agreement in 2013 and 2025. The figure, reported on 9 September 2026 by the Dutch Government, is 2,200 higher than the previous year. However, it remains below the agreement’s target of 125,000 extra jobs.

Minister Aartsen wants to speak with employers and municipalities to find out what is needed to reach the target. He said people’s talents should not be overlooked because they have a disability, and that everyone should have the opportunity to take part in the labour market. He also said that, despite efforts in recent years, this is not happening enough. In his view, the system is complicated and does not sufficiently encourage employers to offer people with disabilities work.

The government is working on a new jobs agreement with social partners, municipalities, UWV (Employee Insurance Agency) and experts by experience. A key principle is that support should be based on what each person needs, rather than on which benefit they receive.

The government is also preparing a bill to widen who can be included in the jobs agreement. It would cover people receiving WIA (abbreviation for the Work and Income Act, income for employee in case of  (partial) incapacity) or unemployment benefits who cannot earn the statutory minimum wage independently. Under the proposed bill, employers could receive a wage cost subsidy when they hire these people.

Employers can already calculate the number of employees with an occupational disability they need to employ to meet the agreement’s quota percentage. The article does not give the percentage or further details about how the calculation works.

The government intends for all parts of the Jobs Agreement Act to take effect by 2027. This would remove the distinction between market employers and government employers when counting jobs created under the agreement. The aim is to focus on whether a person is working, rather than on where they work. The government expects public- and private-sector employers to create more jobs together under this approach.

Source: Government of the Netherlands – 09/09/2026

Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid. (2026, September 10). Bijna 92.000

extra banen voor mensen met een arbeidsbeperking. Ministerie Van Sociale Zaken En Werkgelegenheid. https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/09/09/bijna-92000-extra-banen-voor-mensen-met-een-arbeidsbeperking