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[BUSINESS] · Belgium · 2 sources

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Part of situation: Belgian labor market trends and employment outlook (2 clusters)

Belgium employment outlook shows rising hiring optimism

employment outlook labor shortages international recruitment Belgian economy hiring trends

Belgian employers are showing increased optimism regarding hiring, according to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey. The net employment forecast for the fourth quarter of 2026 stands at +16%, an increase of 8 percentage points compared to the previous quarter. Regional differences are notable: Wallonia leads with a +22% forecast, followed by Flanders at +20%, while Brussels lags significantly at +1%.

Sector-specific data indicates that the manufacturing industry has the strongest outlook at +32%. Construction and real estate follow with a +27% forecast.

Simultaneously, labor shortages are driving a shift toward international recruitment. Research from Remote indicates that 41% of HR and business leaders are recruiting internationally more often, and 78% report increased difficulty in finding qualified local candidates compared to last year. These shortages have impacted business performance, with 72% of respondents stating that talent gaps hindered the achievement of key objectives, such as revenue targets or product launches.

Entities

Brussels · Flanders · ManpowerGroup · Remote · Wallonia

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 41 percent of HR and business leaders report recruiting internationally more frequently. businessam.be
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Brussels has a net employment forecast of +1%. hrmagazine.be
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The manufacturing industry shows the strongest outlook at +32%. hrmagazine.be
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 72 percent of respondents say talent shortages hindered achieving key business objectives last year. businessam.be
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Flanders has a net employment forecast of +20%. hrmagazine.be
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 78 percent of respondents find it harder to find qualified local candidates than a year ago. businessam.be
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Wallonia has a net employment forecast of +22%. hrmagazine.be
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The net employment forecast for the fourth quarter of 2026 in Belgium is +16%. hrmagazine.be

Sources

Belgische werkgevers worden opnieuw positiever over aanwervingen [hrmagazine.be]
4 days ago
Belgische bedrijven zoeken steeds vaker over de grens naar gekwalificeerd personeel [businessam.be]
4 days ago