Belgium has three regional job markets, each with its own employment service and language: Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, both in Brussels – and German in the east. The minimum wage is €2,234 a month (July 2026), students can work 650 hours a year at reduced contributions, and Wallonia lists 144 shortage occupations for 2026.
Belgium is a country of 12.0 million people with three regional labour markets. Each region has its own public employment service: VDAB in Flanders, Le Forem in Wallonia and Actiris in Brussels, plus ADG for the German-speaking Community.
Unemployment has gone up slightly – from 5.6% in 2022 to 6.2% in 2025, just above the EU average of 6.0%. Youth unemployment is also higher than in the EU as a whole: 17.4% among people aged 15–24, compared with 15.2%. The employment rate is below the EU average: 72.8% of people aged 20–64 have a job (EU: 76.1%).
As an EU/EEA citizen you do not need a work permit. What matters most is language: Dutch is used in Flanders, French in Wallonia, German in the German-speaking area and both Dutch and French in Brussels.
Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.
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