The Market for Civil Servants: Public Administration in The Netherlands

Abstract

The Dutch civil service has undergone profound changes over the last two decades. Although certainly not unique in this respect reform has left its mark on the size, the organization and the preferred mode of operation of the civil service. In this contribution we will concentrate on the aspects related to the labour market for civil servants. We intend to explore the relation between the changes in demand for civil servants and the changes in how (future) civil servants are educated and trained for a job in government. Using the 'market' metaphor we will look at the demand for and the supply of civil servants working at the central level of government.