A look back at some labour market indicators since 2000
Ahead of 1 May, International Workers’ Day, Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, gives an overview of some labour market indicators of the years 2000 to 2022. Over 22 years, Belgium has registered an increase in the employment rate of people aged 20-64 (+9.3%) and a decrease in the unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 (-20.3%). The gender employment gap has decreased by 11.9 percentage points since 2000. Another striking finding is that people aged 55 to 64 have a much higher employment rate in 2022 (56.6%) than in 2000 (26.3% only).
More information is available here below.
Employment rate increase in Belgium from 2000 to 2022
In 22 years, the employment rate of people aged 20-64 per region has continuously increased. In Belgium, the employment rate was 65.8% in 2000 and 71.9% in 2022, i.e. an increase of 6.1 percentage points. Our country has never had such a high rate. All regions have registered an increase over these 22 years: in the Brussels-Capital Region (+5.5 points), in Flanders (+7.3 points) and in Wallonia (+4.6 points).
At provincial level and in Brussels, the employment rate of people aged 20-64 has steadily increased. East Flanders has the highest rate in 2022 with 80%. Hainaut, with 61.4%, is the province with the lowest employment rate. In 2000, Flemish Brabant had the highest rate with 72.8% and Hainaut, with 58.7%, had the lowest.
Smaller gender employment gap
Between 2000 and 2022, the employment rate between men and women became more equal. 75.7% of men had a job in 2022 compared to 75.5% in 2000. For women, it was a rate of 68.1% in 2022 and 56% in 2000. The gender employment gap went from 19.5 points in 2000 to 7.6 points in 2022.
The gender employment gap (20-64) per region has been steadily decreasing for 22 years. This is a decrease of 11.9 percentage points. The gap between men and women decreases in all regions, although to varying degrees. In Brussels, this gap decreased by 3.1 points while it fell by 12.8 points in Flanders and 12.9 points in Wallonia.
At provincial level and in Brussels, the gender employment gap (20-64) has been steadily decreasing for 22 years. Namur registers the smallest gap in 2022 with 3.8 percentage points. Brussels, with 10.1 points, has the largest gap. In 2000, Brussels had the smallest gap with 13.2 points and Antwerp, with 23.5 points, had the largest gap.
Sharp increase in the employment rate of people aged 55-64
For people aged 55 to 64, we notice a sharp increase in the employment rate. For Belgium, this rate was 26.3% in 2000, and 56.6% in 2022. This is an increase of 30.3 percentage points over 22 years. All regions have registered an increase between 2000 and 2022: in the Brussels-Capital Region (+19.5 points), in Flanders (+33.9 points) and in Wallonia (+26.3 points).
Decrease in the unemployment rate between 2000 and 2022
In 22 years, the employment rate has increased, the gender gap has decreased and, strongly influenced by the economic situation, the unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 according to the ILO definition is lower than in 2000. In Belgium, this rate was 7% in 2000, and 5.6% in 2022. This is a decrease of 1.4 percentage points. All regions have registered a decrease over these 22 years: in the Brussels-Capital Region (-2.5 points), in Flanders (-1.1 points) and in Wallonia (-1.9 points).
At provincial level and in Brussels, the unemployment rate (15-64) has generally decreased between 2000 and 2022. East Flanders has the lowest rate in 2022 with 2%. Brussels, on the other hand, has the highest unemployment rate, with 11.5%. In 2000, Brussels already had the highest rate with 14% and Flemish Brabant, with 3.6%, had the lowest.