Netherlands: Female freelancers out-earn men in the race for jobs despite recruiter bias for male candidates
While recruiters are approaching male candidates first, women in the independent workforce are quietly winning the battle for assignments and finally closing the pay gap, finds report
Women are the new power players in freelancing, according to recent data, which has flipped the traditional narrative on the UK and European labour markets.
According to the latest Talent Monitor report by Intelligence Group and HeadFirst Group, female freelance professionals working in the Netherlands are now 68% more successful at landing contracts than their male peers.
Whether they are independent contractors or working through agencies, women are proving to be more effective at securing work. This trend suggests a high level of resilience, even as traditional recruitment methods struggle to keep up with the change.
The self-employed earnings reversal
While women represent 38% of the 1.3 million self-employed individuals in the Netherlands, they are now out-earning the 62% who are men in this sector, according to an analysis of CBS statistics, the NL Times reported.
The CBS researchers, according to the NL Times, collected the income data of roughly 1.3 million self-employed individuals in the Netherlands, of whom 62 per cent are men and 38 per cent are women. Researchers then divided total income by the number of hours worked to calculate hourly rates.
However, this does not take into account the costs freelancers take on as business owners, such as insurance, software and accountancy.
- Women’s average hourly income: 25.90 euros
- Men’s average hourly income: 25.10 euros
This trend stands in contrast to traditional salaried roles, where a gender pay gap persists. In standard employment, women earn 10.5% less per hour than men:
| Employment Type | Men’s Hourly Rate | Women’s Hourly Rate |
| Self-Employed | 25.10 euros | 25.90 euros |
| Salaried | 30.32 euros | 27.15 euros |
Why the gender pay gap is disappearing for self-employed
In a historic win for equality, the study found that the gender pay gap in hourly rates has effectively vanished for female professionals.
Before 2020, men earned roughly 10% more per hour. However, since the pandemic, that gap has evaporated, said the report. While factors like education and experience still influence pay, gender is no longer a defining factor in how much a freelancer can charge.
HeadFirst Group’s Marion van Happen said market forces are a key reason for the earnings gap reversal among freelancers:
In salaried positions, wages are often determined by pay scales, job evaluations, and internal negotiations, which still tend to favour men. For freelancers, scarcity drives rates.
This trend contrasts with the wider UK job market, where the Office for National Statistics (ONS) still reports a significant gap for full-time employees.
The UK’s gender pay gap has been decreasing slowly over time; over the last decade, it has fallen by more than a quarter among full-time employees, and in April 2025, it stood at 6.9%, down from 7.1% in April 2024.
The ONS reported, “Men in full-time employment earned more than women in full-time employment in all major occupation groups in April 2025.”
Why recruiters are missing the goal
Despite their success, women are being overlooked by headhunters. The report reveals a “recruitment blind spot” where men are approached for jobs significantly more often:
- Independent men: Approached 19 times a year
- Independent women: Approached 15 times a year
- Employees: Men are contacted roughly 10 times annually, compared to just 7 for women
Geert-Jan Waasdorp, director and founder of Intelligence Group, explained why recruiters still approach male candidates first:
Men are more likely to work full-time and are therefore more attractive to approach by recruiters. This could be financially driven, because more hours also mean more turnover for a recruitment agency. In addition, the fact that LinkedIn, one of the most important sourcing channels, is slightly overrepresented by men may also play a role.
HeadFirst Group’s Van Happen, added:
This surprising insight highlights the importance of measuring effective recruitment efforts. Gut feeling no longer represents market dynamics. Organisations that have their numbers, both internally and externally, in order are demonstrably more successful in mediation, growth and profitability.
Van Happen suggested there is a disappearing gender pay gap between male and female [freelance] professionals, which is a promising step towards a fair and equal labour market.
What this means for the UK labour Market
In the UK, the rise of the solo entrepreneur has been a defining feature of the last decade. For those looking to see how this compares to local trends, official sources show a similar push toward flexible working:
However, recruiters and headhunters acting on outdated gut feelings and old-school recruitment habits means, according to the latest research, are missing out on the most successful talent pool available. To grow in 2026, companies need to look past their usual LinkedIn search results and recognise that female professionals aren’t just participating in the market, but excelling in it.
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