40% fewer job vacancies in Brussels in a year

The number of job vacancies in Brussels has fallen sharply over the past year across nearly all sectors, according to newly released figures from employment agency Actiris.

Actiris posted 39% fewer job vacancies last year than the year before, Bruzz reports, with that number rising to as much as 56% in the construction sector and 52% in IT.

“Companies are waiting to see how things develop,” said ING chief economist Peter Vanden Houte.

“The economic climate today isn’t very bad, but it’s not good either. There are unlikely to be any major restructuring measures involving large-scale redundancies. However, there will be less recruitment.”

The Actiris figures include posted job vacancies from partner organisations such as VDAB, Forem or Jobat.

The decline spans almost all sectors: -44% in economics, finance and law; -44% in industry; -25.9% in psychosocial, culture, leisure and sport; -21% in security, cleaning and environment; and -11% in transport.

The only occupational groups that saw an increase in the number of vacancies were education (+2.4%) and the garage, bodywork and bicycle category (+32%).

For Brussels, the number of job vacancies peaked after the pandemic but has since fallen in the period of October 2024 to September 2025, although it is still higher than pre-pandemic levels. In Flanders, however, the number of new job vacancies is at its lowest level since 2018.

Vanden Houte points to the trade war with the US and domestic issues, as well, noting that the Belgian government must make serious efforts to get its budget in order.

“That’s a factor that can weigh on the growth of companies,” Vanden Houte said.

“Subsidies for night work or research, for example, may be discontinued. This will result in a no-hiring policy. Companies are waiting for the outcome of this exercise and are cautious about any expansion plans.”

There are also unique explanations for each sector. For example, industry is struggling with high energy prices, pressure in international trade is leading to fewer recruitments in transport, and recruitments within the Brussels administrations have fallen sharply since the recruitment freeze in December 2023.

“In the IT sector, the rise of AI may also play a role,” said Vanden Houte. “In the United States, this sector has been declining for more than a year.”

Actiris also noted that gross domestic product growth is slowing down. It was 1.3% in 2023 and fell to 1% in 2024, which is also the forecast for 2025.

“Political uncertainty in the Brussels region is also playing a role, slowing down companies' investment decisions,” Actiris said in its report.

The financial situation of non-profit organisations in the social and cultural sector in Brussels is likewise tense.

“The prolonged absence of a new Brussels government, combined with austerity measures, has worsened their budgetary situation,” said Actiris spokesman Romain Adam.

“Due to a lack of clarity, non-profit organisations can no longer guarantee jobs or extend projects. That’s why they are recruiting less.”

The construction sector has been in crisis throughout the country. Some 7,000 jobs have been lost in the sector since 2021.

“In Brussels, this crisis has been exacerbated by the discontinuation of the Renolution premiums since January 2025, which has had a significant impact on activity and therefore employment,” Adam said.