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You don't have a talent shortage. You have a connection problem.

4 min

The labor market isn't going back to normal. Here's why companies that keep searching stay stuck, and what actually works instead.

By Tuğba İleri – Founder Mornext HR & Talent & board member TOV The Hague

Let's be honest.

When you say "We can't find anyone", chances are that's not true.

Here's what is true:

You're not finding the right people because of how you're looking. And every month, that costs you money, time and energy all over again.


The numbers are clear. But the real message runs deeper

The 2025 Annual Report of the Dutch Labor Inspectorate (PDF) paints a sharp picture:

  • Workplace risks persist
  • Organizations don't always see them clearly
  • Collaboration is essential to improve things

That last point matters most. Because in practice, that's exactly where things break down.

Organizations try to solve it alone. But the real answer is connection.


Companies are running below capacity, structurally

Here's what I see in organizations every single day:

  • Vacancies stay unfilled
  • Teams operate at their limit
  • Managers firefight instead of building

Meanwhile, something else is quietly happening:

👉 Problems are stacking up beneath the surface

The Labor Inspectorate puts it sharply:

Employers don't always have a clear view of risks, while the knowledge and tools to address them are readily available.

Source: Annual Report 2025, Dutch Labor Inspectorate

That tells you one thing: the problem isn't just about capacity. It's about how you deal with it.


The biggest missed opportunity: a talent pool you're not using

This is where it gets interesting.

While organizations keep searching the same way, three things are happening:

  • International talent can't find a way in
  • Highly educated professionals stay stuck below their level
  • People without a network remain invisible

And at the same time, Europe is sounding the alarm:

👉 There's an international "war on talent"

👉 That's why a European Talent Pool is being built

Let that sink in.

The solution is already being prepared at European level. At organizational level, it's barely being used.


This is where it goes wrong. And it's costing you money

Most organizations:

  • Search through the same channels
  • Play it safe
  • Avoid unfamiliar talent

The result:

  • Vacancies stay open
  • Workload rises
  • Errors and risks multiply
  • People burn out

This is exactly what the Labor Inspectorate's data confirms.

👉 This isn't bad luck. It's a system-level failure.


My view: the labor market needs connection, not more searching

The future of work is:

  • More international
  • More complex
  • Built on collaboration

The Labor Inspectorate has been saying it for years: collaboration between all parties is essential to make work safe and fair.

Here's how I translate that to practice:

Companies that keep searching, keep getting stuck. Companies that connect, grow.


What we do at Mornext

At Mornext, we don't fill vacancies. We fix the problem behind the vacancy.

1. We unlock international talent pools

We surface talent that's outside your reach but exactly what you need.

2. We bridge the gap between talent and organizations

We connect companies with people they'd never find on their own, but who are critical to growth.

3. We make it stick

No mismatch. No band-aid fix. We guide the process across:

  • Culture
  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Long-term employability

What this delivers

Organizations that dare to look differently:

  • Fill key roles faster
  • Lower team workload
  • Reduce risk
  • Build stronger teams
  • Grow structurally

This isn't an HR expense. It's a strategic decision.


Most organizations wait too long

They wait until:

  • Someone burns out
  • A team hits a wall
  • A problem escalates

And then they start looking. By then, it's already too late.


That's why we start with insight

Not with a vacancy. With an analysis.

Mornext Talent & Capacity Analysis

We'll show you:

  • Where your organization is bleeding capacity
  • Which talent opportunities you're leaving on the table
  • Where risks are building up
  • And how to fix it right away

What you get:

  • A sharp, actionable analysis
  • Concrete next steps
  • Insight into international talent strategy
  • A growth path you can act on immediately

Investment: Starting at €2,500. Often paid back within a single quarter.


One last thing

The labor market is not going back to the way it was.

The question isn't: Where do I find people?

The real question is: Are you willing to look differently, and act on what you see?


Does this hit close to home? Then take the next step. Not a casual chat, but a real first move toward structural change.

Get started today

The labor market isn't going back to normal. Here's why companies that keep searching stay stuck, and what actually works instead.