External hiring down at Amsterdam municipality, while number of permanent staff increases
The municipality of Amsterdam has reduced its total workforce by 83 full-time positions by cutting external hiring, even as the number of permanent staff has slightly increased. Officials are implementing a tightened hiring freeze to meet a long-term goal of cutting 2,500 jobs by 2030.
The municipal organization in Amsterdam has seen a total reduction of 83 full-time equivalent positions since a reorganization was initiated, bringing the current total to 22,148 FTEs. This decrease is primarily attributed to the termination of external hiring, such as freelancers and temporary agency workers. Conversely, the number of employees directly on the municipal payroll actually increased by 65 FTEs, with growth concentrated in positions within lower salary scales. This development follows a declared hiring freeze that aims for a total reduction of 2,500 full-time jobs by 2030.
Despite the hiring freeze, internal documents revealed that 73 higher-scale positions were added after July 1st, prompting leadership to tighten restrictions immediately. Alderman Hendrik Jan Biemond remains committed to a target of cutting 250 positions by the end of this year, relying on the expiration of existing contracts to achieve these savings. Department directors are currently reviewing their staff numbers to identify which specific roles will be cut to meet the long-term organizational goals.
Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
