Brussels, Belgium – Belgium’s employment rate among working-age individuals (20-64) reached a record 72.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to new data released by the Belgian statistics bureau, Statbel, on Thursday.
While this marks a significant improvement over the past two decades, experts highlight continued disparities among different demographic groups.
Statbel spokesperson Wendy Schelfaut noted that the employment rate has seen a gradual upward trend since 2000, increasing by 6.5 percentage points from 65.8% to 72.3% in 2024.
Despite this overall progress, key discrepancies remain based on nationality, regional distribution, and demographic characteristics.
Non-EU Nationals Lag Behind
One of the most striking disparities exists between Belgian nationals and non-EU27 citizens. While employment rates for all groups have improved, non-EU nationals continue to experience significantly lower employment levels.
In 2024, the employment rate among non-EU27 nationals stood at 58%, trailing behind EU27 nationals (70.7%) and Belgian nationals (77%) by 11 and 19 percentage points, respectively.
Two decades ago, this gap was even wider, with non-EU citizens recording an employment rate of just 44.3% compared to 63.8% for EU nationals and 69.1% for Belgians.
While the employment gap has slightly narrowed, non-EU workers still face numerous barriers to securing jobs in Belgium, including language requirements, legal work restrictions, and complex diploma recognition processes.
Experts also point to discrimination as a contributing factor making it harder for highly educated non-EU citizens to find suitable employment compared to their counterparts in neighboring countries.
Regional Employment Disparities
Statbel’s data also highlights stark regional differences, with Flanders leading the way in employment growth. The Flemish Region recorded an employment rate of 78.2%, significantly higher than Wallonia (66.3%) and Brussels (63.8%).
Between the third and fourth quarters of 2024, Flanders was the only region where employment rates increased.
The Federal Government has set an ambitious target of reaching an 80% employment rate by 2029, requiring 550,000 more working-age individuals to enter the job market.
Currently, 4.9 million people aged 20-64 are employed, but to meet the target, this number must rise to 5.45 million.
Long-Term Developments: Women and Older Workers Gain Ground
Statbel’s report also highlights significant long-term shifts in the Belgian labor market. The employment rate among individuals aged 55-64 has increased dramatically from 26.3% in 2000 to 59.4% in 2024.
This surge is largely attributed to Belgium’s rising statutory retirement age, compelling older workers to remain in the workforce longer.
However, a considerable gap remains between this group and younger individuals (20-54), who have an employment rate of 76.1%.
Women have also made substantial gains in employment. In 2024, 68.3% of women aged 20-64 were employed, compared to 76.3% of men.
While a gender employment gap persists, it has more than halved from 19.5 percentage points in 2000 to just eight percentage points in 2024.
Challenges for Vulnerable Groups
Despite these improvements, vulnerable groups continue to struggle in the labor market. Among people with serious long-term disabilities, only a quarter are employed, while those with low levels of education have an employment rate of just 47.5%.
While Belgium’s record employment rate is a positive sign of economic progress, the disparities highlighted by Statbel indicate that significant policy efforts are still needed to ensure equal job opportunities for all.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
