The number of job vacancies in the Netherlands reached a record 277,000 in the first quarter of this year, with more work on offer in almost every category, the national statistics agency CBS said.

In particular, medium-sized firms with workforces of between 10 and 100 have many vacancies, the CBS said in its latest quarterly economic round-up.

The Dutch official jobless total has fallen to 3.4%, its lowest level since the crisis of 2008, the CBS said. The unemployment rate has fallen for the past five years after reaching a peak of 7.8% five years ago.

‘Companies have problems getting enough personnel and are offering more permanent contacts,’ chief economist Peter Hein van Mulligen said. Wages, however, have not risen.

‘This is surprising because a shortage of workers should lead to higher wages,’ he said. ‘Companies are booking record profits so there should be enough room.’