The Netherlands plans to reduce its civil service workforce by approximately 25,000 positions over the next decade as part of a government initiative to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) aimed at improving efficiency and cutting costs. This reduction represents about 15 percent of all government jobs and is expected to save taxpayers an estimated €3.5 billion annually.

The government’s focus on streamlining public administration excludes sectors such as police and defense, which will not be affected by the planned cuts. Officials aim to achieve savings of €900 million from the central budget by the end of the coming year. Despite the upcoming reductions, the Dutch government workforce has expanded significantly in recent years, with around 46,500 new jobs added since 2018. This growth has resulted in a 40 percent increase in the size of the civil service.

Prime Minister Rob Jetten is scheduled to outline the government’s broader AI strategy in the first quarter of next year, emphasizing a vision for a civil service that is “simpler, smarter, and smaller.” The plan seeks to leverage AI technologies to enable government operations to function more productively and effectively, reducing bureaucratic complexity.

Eric van der Burg, the Netherlands’ state secretary, highlighted the need for reform by pointing to the challenges posed by excessive rules, exceptions, and procedures that can hinder problem-solving. He said residents and businesses should expect a government that responds more directly and efficiently to their needs, accompanied by significant cuts to organisational costs.

The Dutch move toward automating and downsizing government roles reflects broader international trends. For example, the United Kingdom’s civil service has grown by more than one-third over the past decade, now employing over 500,000 people. Analysts have estimated that if the UK implemented a similar AI-driven efficiency program, it could result in reductions of around 75,000 civil service jobs.

In the UK, political figures have expressed support for such measures. Richard Tice, deputy leader of the Reform party, indicated his backing for AI-driven public sector reform, suggesting that it could begin with local councils under his party’s control.

As the Netherlands prepares to adopt AI tools to transform its public administration, it joins other countries grappling with the challenge of balancing workforce size with technological advancement and fiscal responsibility.