Belgian labor market shows high employee openness despite low mobility

Recent reports indicate a complex landscape in the Belgian labor market, characterized by high employee openness to new opportunities but cautious actual mobility. According to the Talent Pulse report by Stepstone and Acerta, approximately 78.6% of Belgian workers are open to changing jobs, marking the highest level in nine years. However, actual mobility remains low, with only 7.3% of the workforce expected to change employers between 2024 and 2025.

Dissatisfaction among employees is often driven by a lack of personal fulfillment or professional challenges, cited by over 40% of respondents. Other factors include misalignments with organizational values and salary concerns. To retain talent, experts suggest companies focus on career development and personal growth rather than relying solely on higher wages.

On the employer side, a study by Robert Half shows that 44% of hiring managers intend to expand their permanent staff in the second half of 2026. There is a growing demand for specialized expertise, particularly in IT and digital sectors, where 47% of managers plan to expand. To address skill shortages, nearly half of large companies and 46% of SMEs are investing in internal training and upskilling programs.