Belgian employees prioritize internal career growth over job hopping

A study conducted by Acerta and Stepstone Belgium involving over 1,700 employees reveals a significant shift in career preferences among Belgian workers. Approximately 70% of employees prioritize professional growth within their current organization over job hopping to new employers.

Despite this desire, a gap exists between employee ambitions and corporate reality. While 46.7% of workers expressed a wish to change roles within their company in the coming year—a figure rising steadily from 34.8% in 2024—more than half of respondents reported having no clear path to internal promotion. Actual internal mobility remains low, with fewer than 8% of employees having changed functions in the past year.

Key findings indicate that transparency is a major hurdle, as 80.5% of workers emphasize the importance of clear communication regarding internal vacancies. Furthermore, while 40.2% of staff took on additional responsibilities or projects, these often did not result in formal job changes. The data suggests that providing continuous learning opportunities and clear development trajectories is essential for talent retention.