Employment rate at about the same level as in February
As Belgian statistical office, Statbel wants to map the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the labour market by providing fast, indicative figures. Based on preliminary results from the Labour Force Survey for the month of March, the employment rate of people aged 20-64 is 68.5%, which is about the same level as in February (68.6%) and 0.4 percentage points less than in January (68.9%). Between February and March, the employment rate of men decreases but that of women increases.
Because of the adjustments to the survey following the entry into force of a new European framework regulation, the employment rate of 2021 cannot simply be compared with the figures prior to 2021. An important change as from this year is the fact that persons in temporary unemployment for more than three months may no longer be counted among the employed people, but among the unemployed or inactive people, depending on the answers to the questions about job search and availability. If we counted them among the employed people as before, the employment rate would amount to 70.3% in January, 69.6% in February and 69.5% in March.
Unemployment rate decreases between February and March
The unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 was 6.6% in March. It decreases compared to February (7.6%) and is at the same level as in January (6.6%). The sharp increase in February is limited to one month and can also indicate random sampling fluctuations.
If we also correct for the temporarily unemployed for more than three months, the unemployment rate in January, February and March amounts to 6.3%, 7.3% and 6.3% respectively.
Illness is the main reason for (at least) one week of absence
In March, 291,000 employed persons reported that they did not work during the full reference week. The main reason for not working is illness or an accident (55.3%), followed by temporary unemployment for 3 months or less (12.2%). 11.5% of absent people were on maternity, paternity or birth leave and 9.6% were on holiday.
Holiday is the main reason for working half a day, a day or a few days less
In addition, more than 640,000 individuals worked a half-day, a day or several days less than usual during the reference week because of holiday, illness, temporary unemployment, another reason or a combination of several reasons. About 400,000 persons took at least a half-day leave or holiday, 107,000 were in temporary unemployment for half a day, a day or several days, 94,000 were temporarily absent due to illness or an accident and 64,000 worked less for another reason such as a family member being ill.
45.1% of persons employed sometimes, usually or always worked from home
In March, homeworking was still mandatory for all people employed whose job allows. 45.1% of persons employed sometimes, usually or always worked from home. This percentage is slightly higher than in January (43.7%) and February (43.3%). Women (47.1%) work more often from home than men (43.3%). Of those who worked at home, 42.4% were working home for the first time during the Covid crisis, 38.6% were working home before but have been doing it more since the Covid crisis, and for 19%, the Covid crisis had no impact on the extent of homeworking.
Since January, the respondents were asked for the first time whether their job or situation allowed them to work more often from home. Among the people employed who did not always work from home, 84.4% answered, in March, that their job made it impossible to work (more) from home. According to 5.9%, it was however possible to work (more) from home but the employer, customer or client did not allow it. In addition, 9.8% of the respondents said they can work (more) from home, but they would rather not do it or it is difficult because of the home situation.