- To fill yawning labour gap
Foreign workers hoping to secure employment in Belgium have received a new opportunity after the Brussels Capital Region published a list of 68 occupations facing labor shortages.
The list, released through Actiris, the region’s official employment service, identifies professions where employers are experiencing difficulties finding enough qualified workers. The occupations cover 10 sectors, including construction, healthcare, education, information technology, transport and logistics. However, the announcement does not apply throughout Belgium. Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia each have their own labor market policies and shortage occupation lists.
The following occupations appear on the Brussels Capital Region’s shortage list.
1. Trade, Sales and Volume Retailing Technical sales advisor Customer support technical advisor
2. Accounting, Finance, Insurance, Law and Real Estate Insurance manager Senior accountant Accountant Chartered accountant Property manager
3. Construction and Public Works Building design engineer Technical construction inspector Construction calculator Site manager Site foreman Tower crane operator Site machinery operator Pitched roof roofer Flat roof roofer Residential electrician Outdoor joiner Heating maintenance technician Formworker and ironworker Mason.
4. Education and Training Secondary school teacher Nursery or primary school teacher Educational coordinator Adult educator Driving instructor
5. Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés (HORECA) Head chef
6. IT and Telecommunications Database administrator ICT analyst and developer ICT business analyst ICT integration and implementation expert IT operations manager IT department manager
7. Technical and Industrial Professions Safety, hygiene and environment expert Electrical and electronics draughtsman Maintenance electrician Industrial electrotechnical installer Maintenance mechanic Lift maintenance technician Industrial electronics maintenance technician Industrial equipment technician Industrial automation technician Refrigeration and air conditioning technician Industrial maintenance manager Production methods and industrialization manager Head of production planning and management Vehicle technician.
8. Health and Social Services Childcare worker Childcare centre manager Social worker Social welfare advisor Educational welfare officer Social economy instructor and facilitator Doctor Care worker Nurse Head nurse Social nurse Operating theatre nurse Pediatric nurse specialist Occupational therapist Speech and language therapist Medical laboratory technologist Medical imaging technologist.
9. Personal Services, Security, Cleaning and Recycling Security guard
10. Transport and Logistics Bus driver Lorry driver with trailer (CE driving license) Tractor-trailer driver (CE driving license)
Healthcare and construction account for many of the vacancies Health and Social Services has the largest number of listed occupations, with 17 roles.
These include doctors, nurses, care workers, occupational therapists and medical laboratory technologists. Construction and Public Works follows with 14 occupations, ranging from engineers and site managers to electricians, roofers and masons.
Technical and Industrial Professions also accounts for 14 roles, highlighting demand for maintenance specialists, mechanics, automation technicians and industrial managers. Other sectors represented include IT and telecommunications, education, accounting, transport, hospitality, retail and security.
Foreign nationals whose professions appear on the list may be eligible for a facilitated work permit procedure when seeking employment in the Brussels Capital Region.
However, appearing on the list does not automatically guarantee a job or a work permit. Applicants must still meet the applicable immigration, qualification and employment requirements. The list is also geographically restricted. A profession identified as being in shortage in Brussels does not automatically qualify under the rules applicable in Flanders or Wallonia. Actiris has published the official list in French and Dutch, while the English version is provided for information purposes. Applicants should consult the official-language documents when checking the formal requirements. The official announcement and occupation list are available through the Brussels Capital Region’s employment website.