A new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights how generative AI could drastically transform the workforce in the Brussels-Capital Region, making work tasks up to twice as fast for nearly half of the region’s labour force.
The report estimates that 48.2% of jobs in Brussels are exposed to generative AI, significantly higher than the OECD average of 26%. At the national level, approximately 33.1% of Belgian workers are affected by AI technologies.
According to the OECD, AI technologies have the potential to greatly enhance productivity by reducing the time required for many tasks.
The report suggests that generative AI could enable workers to complete around 20% of their daily tasks in half the time, revolutionizing efficiency across various industries.
The findings are particularly relevant in the context of labor shortages, a challenge that many regions, including Belgium, are currently facing.
The report underscores that AI could be a powerful tool for addressing these shortages. By automating routine tasks, AI can free up workers to focus on more complex duties.
Furthermore, AI can help employers tap into “untapped talent” by enabling low-skilled workers or those with disabilities to take on roles that were previously inaccessible to them. This could be especially impactful in Belgium, where the country has been grappling with a tight labor market.
While the benefits of generative AI are evident, the report also acknowledges the potential risks of automation. In terms of job displacement, Brussels is relatively protected compared to other OECD regions.
The risk of job loss due to automation in the region stands at just 1.6%, far below the OECD average of 12%. Nationally, 4.6% of workers in Belgium are highly exposed to automation.
This low risk of job loss can be attributed to Belgium’s high proportion of skilled workers. Brussels, in particular, has the highest share of high-skill jobs in the country, at 58.6%, compared to the OECD average of 44%.
The prevalence of high-skill jobs across Belgium suggests that automation is less likely to replace these positions.
Conversely, low-skill jobs, which are more vulnerable to automation, make up a smaller proportion of the workforce, ranging from 22.1% in Brussels to 23.9% in Flanders.
The OECD also notes that while the precise impact of generative AI on job markets remains uncertain, historical evidence from previous automation waves suggests that overall job creation is possible.
However, the report warns that new jobs created by automation may not necessarily benefit those workers who lost their jobs as a result of technological advancements.
The OECD’s findings also reveal stark regional differences in Belgium’s labour market. The country’s national employment rate stood at 64.1% in 2023, which is below the OECD benchmark of 69.4%. Employment rates are highest in Flanders (71.4%) and lowest in Wallonia (59.9%).
Labour market tightness, measured by the number of job vacancies per unemployed person, is most severe in Flanders, which faces 120% more vacancies than Belgium’s national average.
In contrast, Brussels has the least severe labour shortages, with 73% fewer vacancies per unemployed person than the national average.
As Belgium continues to navigate its labour market challenges, the potential of AI to supplement the workforce could offer a key solution to reducing shortages, improving productivity, and ensuring that all workers can access the skills and opportunities required in the future economy.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
