Dutch labor market trends reveal top IT certifications

An analysis of Dutch job vacancy data reveals the most sought-after IT certifications in the Netherlands. By examining tens of thousands of active and recent vacancies on platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed.nl, and sector-specific job boards, researchers identified the specific credentials employers prioritize in practice.

The top five most frequently requested certifications are:

1. Microsoft Azure (ranging from AZ-900 to AZ-305 and higher), which is dominant across various sectors including government and healthcare. 2. CISSP, a standard requirement for banks, insurers, and large IT service providers. 3. AWS (Solutions Architect or Developer), particularly prevalent among tech scale-ups and SaaS companies. 4. PRINCE2 / IPMA, primarily requested for project management roles within the public sector. 5. ITIL 4, which remains a staple for service management roles in both government and large corporate IT departments.

While certifications like CompTIA Security+ and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) appear in job descriptions, they rank lower in frequency compared to the top five.