In Belgium, shortage occupation lists guide job seekers, particularly foreign nationals, towards sectors facing a deficit of qualified workers. These lists are established independently by each region – Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia – and are compiled by regional employment agencies (respectively VDAB, Actiris, and Le Forem). Not only do the lists act as navigational tools directing individuals toward employment opportunities, they also allow employment authorities to create targeted policies and initiatives in response to labour shortages in order to help balance the Belgian labour market.
The European Commission (EC)’s European Year of Skills aligns with this initiative by focusing on reskilling and upskilling programmes that aim to address worker deficits in the healthcare, IT and hospitality sectors. It promotes inclusive access to skills development and the attraction of skilled individuals from third countries in order to address labour shortages in the European Union (EU).
Among the other purposes served by these lists is their instrumental role in forecasting future labour needs, enabling proactive measures to bridge gaps across sectors and bringing a steady supply of skilled labour. Additionally, they play an important role in supporting the inclusion of foreign workers in the Belgian job market and facilitating their integration.
The conditions to work in Belgium are the same across all three regions: a 90-day work permit or a longer “unique permit” is required for both the residence and employment of foreigners in the country. Certain categories of foreign nationals, though, are exempt from this requirement: citizens of an EU member state, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland are permitted to work in any job in Flanders for any employer without needing a work permit.
Wallonia encourages job seekers to consider shortage occupations by offering bonuses of up to €2 000 for specific jobs. Financial incentives are provided to learners who successfully complete training that leads to shortage occupation, and various financial incentives are available for workers choosing to take up a job in high demand. The Walloon Region has proposed to legalise undocumented migrants in order to fill job gaps, but this proposal has not yet been taken up.
In Flanders, unskilled newcomers will be required to undergo training for occupations facing shortages. This initiative requires unqualified newcomers to learn trades such as truck driving, nursing or childcare through on-the-job training as part of the obligatory integration process.
Brussels also faces difficulties in filling job vacancies for nurses, truck drivers, and IT specialists, for which it is recruiting outside the EU in countries such as Lebanon. The government acknowledges the need to update existing laws for temporary hiring during periods of labour shortage, which is currently leading to an increase in permits while undocumented workers are still ineligible for them.
Improving access to professions by simplifying admission procedures could significantly enhance opportunities for migrants seeking employment within the Belgian job market amidst job shortages, and protect them against labour exploitation. This goes hand in hand with improving the recognition of foreign qualifications by promoting transparency and comparability of skills, ensuring that skills obtained abroad are equally valued.