The job market in Brussels
In addition to the European Union and NATO, which are based in the city, Brussels has numerous other sectors offering expats employment opportunities. The labor market is quite competitive; however, since many highly educated individuals live in the city and to get a job, you often need to know at least two languages to a very high level. Brussels may be the right place for you if you are looking for an excellent work-life balance and the chance to further your career.
An overview of the Brussels' labor market
As Brussels is home to both the EU institutions and NATO, not to mention a host of international NGOs and multinational corporations, many employment opportunities exist for expats looking to move to the city. Consequently, the workforce is very multicultural and highly skilled. While this does mean that many jobs in Brussels are very well-paying, it also means that there is quite a lot of competition for these posts. Depending on what sector you're looking at, you may need an excellent level of English, French, and Dutch just to be asked for an interview. In other jobs, you can get by with just English and another language if the position is more geared towards working with internationals. Non-EU nationals may find it harder to find a job in Brussels due to the bureaucratic rules and regulations that local companies must abide by when recruiting employees outside the EU/EEA.
In addition to the European institutions, which are significant employers in the city, Brussels also has a large services sector, so there are many jobs in finance, business, health, and social services. As well as this, there is also a demand for engineers, technicians, administration workers, IT professionals, and sales representatives.
According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, the latest figures show that 72.1% of 20 to 64-year-olds are now full-time, representing a record for Belgium; the unemployment rate remains at 5.7%. However, this means there are fewer job vacancies for expats to apply to; at the end of 2022, the ranking of sectors with vacancies in Brussels was as follows: non-market, science and services, industry, commerce, and, in fifth place, construction.
Of these vacancies, five sectors dominated, with 20.8% of all jobs open for scientific activities and administrative services. After this, the non-profit sector had the second highest number of vacancies, with 35,000 positions available, representing 17.9% of the total job vacancies. Wholesale, retail, industry, and construction comprised the rest of the top five, with vacancies representing 15.1%, 12.2%, and 9.3%.
After this, the ICT sector posted 6.4% of the total job vacancies and accommodation, and food service activities were also relatively high at 7.1%. Meanwhile, real estate activities and construction stood respectively at 6.0% and 2.9%.
Unemployment in Brussels
Between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, the unemployment rate increased from 11.5% to 11.4% in Brussels for an employment rate of 66%. Youth unemployment (15-24 years) stands at 21.7%, 12.1% for women and 10.9% for men.
Spontaneous applications in Brussels
Regardless of whether a position is open with the employer of your dreams, it never hurts to send a spontaneous application, which is quite common in Belgium. Due to the competitive nature of the Belgian labor market, it pays to be proactive, and you may have to be patient as it can take a while to find the right job. Look through employers in your sector who you would like to work for and send a spontaneous CV, making sure to address the person you are emailing in the appropriate language. While this practice may seem foreign to many newcomers to Brussels, it is a norm here in Belgium and can result in you earning an interview or even a job.
Salaries for expatriates in Brussels
The question of expatriate salaries is difficult to answer, as the difference in salary between expatriates and local employees in Brussels can depend on several factors, including activity sector, level of responsibility, experience, level of education, nationality, and the employer's remuneration policy.
For more information on this subject, it is advisable to contact trade unions or people working in the same sector.
