Brussels ( Brussels Morning ) – Belgium’s unemployment rate returns to pre-pandemic levels, per ONEM’s report, signalling significant economic recovery and future growth initiatives.
Belgium’s unemployment rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels. It observes a significant milestone in its economic recovery, as per ONEM’s latest report. With a notable drop in jobless figures and positive economic indicators, Director General Jean-Marc Vandenbergh outlines the country’s progress and future initiatives to sustain momentum.
According to the National Employment Office’s (ONEM) report, Belgium’s unemployment rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels. The number of jobless individuals has dropped below 300,000, ONEM states. There were on average 295,801 unemployed people every month throughout 2023, denoting a 2.4% decrease from the previous year.
ONEM General Director Jean-Marc Vandenbergh writes that this is the most meaningful drop in unemployment since 1977 and mirrors modest but positive economic growth. “The statistics indicate that the working population is growing quicker than the population of working age,” he added.
The plunge in unemployment is slightly more vertical in Flanders (a 4.5% decline in one year) than in Wallonia (0.7%) or the Brussels-Capital Region (2%). Employment is barely lower in Belgium than in the rest of the EU. 58% of the population is in occupation compared to an EU average of 60.8%. The land is slightly after its neighbours France (58.6%), Germany (67.5%) and the Netherlands (72.2%).
However, the small lag in Belgium is due to a “relatively high” rate of lethargy (38.6%), a category that guides people in training or with a long-term disease. “Tackling unemployment is not the answer to boosting the employment rate,” states Vandenbergh. “We need to glance at the inactive population too.” The effect of successive COVID-19 crises on unemployment is shrinking too. Temporary unemployment (a classification that became immensely popular throughout the pandemic) has dropped by more than 25% in one year, from a monthly standard of 162,675 people in 2023 to 121,127 the previous year.
“This system was an expensive buffer during this period, with €7.7 billion in supplementary benefits achieved over four years, but it has enabled us to preserve social stability”, the Director General presents. “We are almost around to the historically low 2019 rates.” Leave allowances are currently on the incline, with 238,936 allowances paid in the middle of each month – 2.4% more than in 2022. Parental leave is undergoing particular gains (an annual enlargement of 7%) and ONEM observes an invariably steady rise in leave requests. ONEM predicts employment to rise in 2024 and plans to support more in digitalisation to ensure adequate efficiency. This includes IT training for customers having difficulty with new applications.
Belgium’s unemployment rate has reverted to pre-pandemic levels, showcasing significant progress according to ONEM’s report. Director General Jean-Marc Vandenbergh highlights this as the most substantial drop since 1977, indicating positive economic growth. Despite a slight lag behind neighbouring EU countries, efforts to address unemployment and inactivity are underway. The decline in temporary unemployment signifies progress in navigating the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, with the system serving as a vital buffer. As leave allowances increase and digitalization initiatives unfold, ONEM anticipates further employment growth in 2024, emphasizing a commitment to enhancing efficiency and supporting individuals in adapting to evolving job landscapes.
