Thanks to a junction with the Crossroads Bank for Social Security, we get for the first time a clear picture of the residents active on the Belgian labour market: who is working, how much, and where. Here are some notable trends.

Who worked?

In 2024, almost 25,000 residents were active on the labour market. That means a little more than four in 10 working-age residents worked last year. However, we see clear differences between groups. 

For example, women worked twice less than men; the employment rate is 24% for women compared to 47% for men. Women apparently work less, even if they don't have children. The reasons behind this situation are still unclear. 

Age plays a role: the younger the residents are, the more they work. Residents aged 18-31 years were twice as likely to be working as people aged 51-67 years. Also worth mentioning: a little less than 2% of 67 years and over had a paid job last year.

The family situation also has an impact. Parents with children work significantly less than residents without children. An explanation could be the lack of childcare.

Looking at employment rates by nationality, we see that eight African countries are in the top ten, from Burkina Faso to Burundi, including Uganda. Knowledge of French and/or English seems to be an asset.

Access to the labour market

Asylum seekers are granted access to the labour market in Belgium four months after their application for protection. Asylum seekers who work retain the right to reception and material assistance but contribute to the reception provided by Fedasil.

Learn more: Employment of asylum seekers | Fedasil