Belgium is home to a broad scope of bi- or multi-lingual talent characterized by a high proficiency of the English language, as well as a multitude of expats working in one of the many multinational organizations housed there. This article lays out some of the key information to bear in mind when considering how to grow your operations in this country.
The market at a glance
Size of workforce
Those who work for pay or profit for at least one hour a week, or who have a job but are temporarily not at work due to illness, leave or industrial action
5.05m
people
Employment rate
The ratio of the employed to the working age
64.68%
Education rate
% of population (25-44 yrs old) with tertiary graduation rates
45.7%
Cost of labour
Average wages
$52,080
English proficiency index (world)
The world's largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills
#11/88
High proficiency
English proficiency index (Europe)
Europe's largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills
#9/32
High proficiency
Finding the right talent
For those interested in expanding their business operations to Belgium, it’s important to have an idea of where to look for local talent. VDAB.be is the number one job board in Belgium, created by the government to make the labour market as transparent as possible. Jobat.be is also a popular online job board. The main employment agency for the Brussels region is ACTIRIS.
Things to keep in mind
There are a few insights to keep in mind when looking to set up operations in Belgium. Contrary to many other countries, annual leave is provided at the start of the year, based on the number of days that you’ve worked in the country in the previous year, which might affect how you attract new employees.
You should also be aware of the high rate of tax in Belgium. As one of the highest rates in Europe, the top earners pay 50% income tax.
Furthermore, when looking for talent, if you do decide to use a recruitment agency, check that it is part of Federgon, the federation of HR service providers in the region.
Sources:
- Total 2017 Labour force
- % of working age population
- % of population (25-44 yrs old) with tertiary graduation rates
- Average wage
- English proficiency index