Jambon focuses on prosperity in Labour Day message

Flemish minister-president Jan Jambon has highlighted the region's high employment rate and other positive economic indicators in a Labour Day statement.

“I read many newspaper articles with messages of doom,” he said. “But if you look at Flanders, the figures are often much better than you would suspect. We have many social problems and challenges to tackle, but that does not take away from the fact we should dare to see positive elements.”

"Work remains the most structural and sustainable way out of poverty"

He pointed out that the employment rate in Flanders rose to a record level of 76.7 per cent in 2022, 11 percentage points higher than in Wallonia and Brussels and 2 points higher than the EU average.

“Work remains the most structural and sustainable way out of poverty,” said Jambon. “Flanders is also performing well in this area."

The risk of poverty or social exclusion fell in the region from 15-16 per cent in 2010-2016 to 11.2 per cent in 2022. This is lower than in Wallonia (25 per cent) and Brussels (35 per cent) and the EU average (22 per cent).

The Federal Planning Bureau forecasts that the Flemish economy will continue to grow in 2023, by an estimated 1.3 per cent.

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