BRUSSELS – One-third of Belgium’s unemployed individuals secured jobs between 2023 and 2024, according to a report published on Tuesday by the Belgian statistics office, Statbel.
The findings provide insight into the nation’s labor market dynamics, revealing both stable employment trends and shifting job mobility patterns.
Statbel’s report highlights that nearly 120,000 job seekers from 2023—representing 40% of the unemployed—were still searching for employment in 2024, while 28% of them became inactive.
These figures indicate that while job opportunities existed, a significant portion of the unemployed population struggled to re-enter the workforce.
Despite these transitions, Belgium’s overall employment rate remained relatively unchanged. Of the 5 million employed individuals aged 15 to 64 in 2023, approximately 4.7 million continued working in 2024. However, 82,000 employees became unemployed, and 195,000 exited the labor force entirely.
Job Mobility and Sectoral Shifts
Not all those who remained employed held onto the same positions. Statbel’s data shows that approximately 7.5% of workers changed jobs, either by moving within their current company, transitioning to a new employer, or launching their own businesses.
While this level of job mobility is comparable to the previous year, it remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, when 5% to 6% of workers changed roles more frequently.
Job mobility trends were more pronounced among specific demographics. Younger workers, particularly in Brussels and Flanders, demonstrated a higher likelihood of switching jobs.
Likewise, individuals with higher levels of education and those engaged in part-time employment exhibited greater job movement.
The report also pointed to a decline in sectoral retention. The percentage of employees who remained in the same sector dropped from 52.6% in 2023 to 49.6% in 2024, signaling an increase in inter-sectoral mobility and possibly reflecting broader economic shifts or evolving workforce demands.
Persistent Inactivity Among Non-Working Population
A notable portion of Belgium’s workforce remains outside the labor market. In 2024, 85.8% of individuals who were inactive in 2023 continued to be so. However, 9.6% transitioned into employment, while 4.6% moved into unemployment.
The total number of inactive persons in Belgium stood at 2.2 million in 2023. By 2024, 1.9 million of them had not rejoined the labor force. Among this group were a substantial number of students who reported having no employment during this period.
Future Labor Market Prospects
The latest employment data underscores both stability and challenges within Belgium’s labor market. While job mobility remains steady, a decline in sectoral retention and a significant inactive population pose concerns for long-term workforce participation.
As economic conditions continue to evolve, labor policies and workforce development initiatives will be crucial in addressing unemployment, boosting job mobility, and reintegrating inactive individuals into productive employment.
With ongoing shifts in labor trends, policymakers and employers will need to focus on strategies that enhance job creation and retention while adapting to a changing economic landscape.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
