A recent report by the European Labour Authority has revealed that Belgium has emerged among the six EU countries with the highest number of shortage occupations.
More specifically, the report identified 186 professions facing shortages across the country. Among the sectors experiencing these shortages are engineering, manufacturing, construction, food and hospitality, healthcare, IT, finance, and skilled crafts and trades, SchengenNews reports.
Professional workers from overseas wishing to work in Belgium may benefit from this situation. This implies that they have higher chances of securing employment and a work visa if they belong to any of the most in-demand roles.
Based on the 2023 EURES report on shortages and surpluses, some of the professions facing labour shortages in Belgium include:
- Civil engineers
- Civil engineering labourers
- Machine operators
- Professional drivers
- Food and hospitality workers
- Electricians
- Mechanics and repairers
- Welders and flame cutters
- Accountants
- Nursing professionals
- Health professionals not elsewhere classified
- Construction managers and supervisors
- Building construction labourers
- Applications programmers
- Software developers
The following roles are only a few of the shortage occupations identified in Belgium, while the full list published in the EURES report contains 186.
Most of Shortage Occupations Are Regional
As further noted, Belgium emerged as the only EU country where more occupations were categorised as regional rather than national shortages.
Waiters are an interesting case from a regional perspective. While they were classified as a shortage in both Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region, they were highlighted as a surplus in Wallonia.
Roles such as science and engineering associate professionals, business and administration associate professionals, and building and related trades workers were mainly identified as shortages at the national level. However, all other shortage occupations were classified as regional.
Belgium Introduced Stricter Rules for Foreign Workers
As of May 1, Belgium has introduced new regulations concerning foreign workers. Although facing labour shortages, the Belg authorities have tightened rules regarding the Shortage Occupation and the labour market.
This implies that employers looking to hire for most in-demand medium-skilled jobs must show that the candidates possess the proper experience and qualifications.
Moreover, Belgium announced stricter rules regarding the labour test procedure. In accordance with the new policies, job vacancies must be published for at least nine weeks within the four months prior to the application.
On the other hand, Belgium eased educational rules for EU Blue Card holders and also introduced additional work permit exemptions.
As reported earlier, the new measures aim to ease the immigration process while ensuring that the labour force in the Flanders Region of Belgium is used effectively.