An additional factor is employment laws give strong protection to full time workers. As the economy recovered after the 2008 financial crisis, employers found it cheaper and less risky to use more flexworkers.

Flexworkers come in two main categories:

- Uitzendkracht - agency workers, hired via an employment bureau such as Adecco, Randstat.

- ZZP-ers - often independent consultants, in many cases starting with a former employer as their initial client.