Flanders wants to attract 2,000 Brussels job seekers to the Flemish labour market

The Flemish government wants to attract more Brussels job seekers to the labour market in Flanders. Minister of Work Jo Brouns (CD&V) announced it this Tuesday 21 June in Diegem the ambition to lead an extra 2,000 inhabitants of Brussels to a job in Flanders every year. Benjamin Dalle (CD&V), responsible for Brussels, and Bernard Clerfayt (DéFI), Brussels Minister for Work, also support the message.

"The shortage on the labour market in Flanders is an opportunity," said Brouns. "It took us ten to twelve years to go from 44,000 to 50,000 Brussels employees, but today the Flemish labour market is almost on fire. This is an opportunity for employers to enter the Brussels market."

In May 2022, Actiris, the employment office in Brussels, counted a total of more than 83,000 job seekers. In Flemish Brabant alone, there were about 9,200 unfilled vacancies at the end of May 2022. Since 2008, 6,000 extra Brussels residents have started working in Flanders, but the Flemish government wants to increase that number. In addition to 2,000 extra Brussels employees, Brouns wants to bring the same number of Walloon employees to Flanders every year.

According to Actiris and the VDAB, the Flemish Employment Agency, there are many vacancies for professionals in the cleaning, care, food and catering sectors. Workers in security, transport and logistics or construction and technology are also needed.

However, the agencies highlight that there are some barriers that prevent Brussels residents from finding their way to Flanders. Language skills are one of them.

"It is possible that we are setting the bar too high in terms of language," says Minister Brouns. "Employees can often also learn the language in the field during their work. That way they can get started faster."

Furthermore, recognition of diplomas, mobility, level of education and childcare are also important obstacles, according to the analysis by Actiris and the VDAB.

"Employers in Flemish Brabant are begging for suitable candidates to fill the many vacancies. The new ambition of Flanders and Brussels should help to meet the worst needs," expressed Voka, the Flemish network of companies.

(VIV)

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© BELGA PHOTO(NICOLAS MAETERLINCK)