The employment rate among people aged 55 to 64 more than doubled between 2000 and 2025
Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, published on 11 March the first annual results of the Labour Force Survey.
Today, Statbel publishes the detailed results of the Labour Force Survey of 2025 via the update of the detailed publications: https://statbel.fgov.be/en/themes/work-training/labour-market/employment-and-unemployment.
In 2025, the employment rate of 20-64-year-olds in Belgium is 72.8% and the ILO unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 is estimated at 6.2%. Both indicators are higher than in 2024, when the employment rate was 72.3% and the unemployment rate was 5.8%. This is what emerged from the annual results of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) published by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. In order to achieve an employment rate of 80% by 2029, there must be some 530,000 additional employed people in the age group 20-64.
In 2025, 77.3% of people aged 20-64 are employed in Flanders, 67.9% in Wallonia and 63.9% in Brussels.
When we look at the employment rate of 20-64-year-olds over a period of 25 years, we see that it has shown a slight upward trend since 2000. In 2000, the employment rate was 65.8% and in 2025, the percentage of employed people was 7 percentage points higher (72.8%).
We note a strong catch-up phenomenon among women, as a result of which the gap with the employment rate of men amounts to 7.1 percentage points in 2025, compared to 19.5 percentage points in 2000. In 2025, 69.3% of women aged 20-64 are employed, compared to 76.4% of men.
Remarkable is the sharp rise in the employment rate among those aged 55 and over, while that among 20-54-year-olds remains stable. In 2000, 26.3% of 55- to 64-year-olds were working. In 2025 this share amounts to 61.5%. The gap with the employment rate of 20-54-year-olds (76.2%) remains significant at 14.7 percentage points, but has narrowed considerably compared to 2000, when it was 47.6 percentage points.
A number of vulnerable groups still have low employment rates in 2025. For example, barely 27% of people with severe long-term limitations in their daily activities due to a disability, disorder or illness are employed, as are 46.7% of low-skilled people and 59% of people with a non-EU27 nationality of origin.
As the legal retirement age rose from 65 to 66 in 2025, Statbel will from now on publish employment rates for alternative age groups, including those of 20-65-year-olds (71.7% in 2025) and 55-65-year-olds (57.7% in 2025). However, the main indicator on which Statbel will communicate remains the employment rate of the population aged 20 to 64. It is indeed on the basis of this indicator that the target of an 80% employment rate in 2029 was set.
In addition to the first annual results, the results for the fourth quarter are also known: the employment rate of people aged 20-64 is estimated in the fourth quarter 2025 at 72.8% and the ILO unemployment rate at 6.5%. Both indicators remain stable compared to the third quarter 2025.
You will find more details below about both the quarterly and annual results. The more detailed annual figures will be published from 24 March.
Labour market indicators: fourth quarter 2025
72.8% of people aged 20-64 are employed in the fourth quarter 2025
In the fourth quarter 2025, the employment rate of people aged 20 to 64 is estimated at 72.8%. This is a stabilisation compared to the third quarter of 2025. In absolute terms, this means that in the fourth quarter 2025, about 4,937,000 people aged 20 to 64 are in work in Belgium. If we look at the population aged 15 and over, this is 5,154,000 employed people.
The employment rate is stabilising for both men and women. The percentage of employed people in the population aged 20-64 is 76.3% among men and 69.3% among women (Chart 1).
In the fourth quarter of 2025, an estimated 77.1% of 20-64-year-olds were in employment in Flanders, 67.9% in Wallonia and 64.3% in Brussels (Chart 2).
The ILO unemployment rate amounts to 6.5% in the fourth quarter 2025
In the fourth quarter 2025, the ILO unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 is 6.5%, which is about the same percentage as in the third quarter 2025. The unemployment rate is estimated at 6.2% for women and 6.7% for men.
In absolute terms, there were about 352,000 ILO unemployed aged 15 years and over in the fourth quarter 2025: 160,000 women and 192,000 men.
The unemployment rate in Brussels is estimated at 11.7% in the fourth quarter 2025, compared to 13.1% in the third quarter. In Wallonia, the unemployment rate is 8.3%, while in Flanders 4.6% of the labour force is unemployed.
Labour market indicators for the year 2025
72.8% of people aged 20-64 were employed in 2025
When the results of the fourth quarter 2025 become available, the first annual results can also be calculated as averages of the four quarterly results for 2025.
In 2025, the Belgian employment rate of 20-64-year-olds is 72.8%, the ILO unemployment rate of 15-64-year-olds is estimated at 6.2% and the activity rate of 15-64-year-olds at 71.9%. These three key indicators are higher in 2025 than in 2024 when the employment rate of 20-64-year-olds was 72.3% and the ILO unemployment rate and activity rate of 15-64-year-olds were 5.8% and 70.8%, respectively. Increased labour market participation is reflected in a decrease in the percentage of inactive people aged 15 to 64, from 29.2% in 2024 to 28.1% in 2025.
In the coalition agreement, Belgium has set itself the objective of an employment rate of 80% by 2029. In order to achieve that objective, some 530,000 additional persons aged 20-64 need to be employed. Currently, 4,938,000 20-64-year-olds are employed. In 2029, approximately 5,470,000 employed people will be needed to achieve the target.
In 2025, the legal retirement age was raised from 65 to 66. Therefore, Statbel will also monitor the evolution of the employment rate of 20-65-year-olds. This rate is 71.7% in 2025 and is slightly lower than the employment rate of 20-64-year-olds (72.8% in 2025). Chart 5 shows the evolution of the employment rate of both age groups by gender.
More alternative employment rates for Belgium and the regions.
The employment rate of 20-64-year-olds remains the main indicator on which Statbel will communicate. It is this same 20–64 age group that is used to monitor the 80% employment rate target for Belgium and for European comparisons. At EU level, the target is for 78% of people aged 20 to 64 to be in employment by 2030.
Large regional differences in the employment and unemployment rates
There are still major regional differences: the employment rate is 77.3% in Flanders, 67.9% in Wallonia and 63.9% in Brussels. The ILO unemployment rate of 15-64-year-olds is estimated at 4.3% in Flanders, 7.9% in Wallonia and 12.7% in Brussels. The percentage of inactive people in the population aged 15-64 is about the same in Brussels (32.9%) as in Wallonia (32.3%). In Flanders, the inactivity rate of people aged 15-64 is 24.9% (Figure 1).
Evolution of the employment rate of people aged 20-64 over a longer period
If we look at the employment rate over time (Chart 6), we can see that it has shown a slight upward trend since 2000. The percentage amounted to 65.8% in 2000, to 67.6% in 2010 and to 70% in 2020, and continued to rise to 72.8% in 2025 (Chart 6).
Next, we examine how the employment rate of a number of sub-populations is evolving.
Women continue to catch up with men
Between 2000 and 2025, the difference between the employment rates of men and women has decreased. In 2025, 76.4% of men aged 20-64 have a job, as do 69.3% of women. In 2000, the employment rate for men and women was 75.5% and 56% respectively. So the difference in employment rates between men and women decreased from 19.5 percentage points in 2000 to 7.1 percentage points in 2025, the smallest gap ever.
A continuous rise in the employment rate among people aged 55 and over
Whereas the percentage of employed people in the 20-54 age group has remained fairly stable over the past 25 years, we see a strong increase in the employment rate of 55-64-year-olds (Chart 7). In 2000, 26.3% of the people aged 55 to 64 were employed. In 2025, that percentage has risen to 61.5%. The gap with the employment rate of 20-54-year-olds (76.2%) still amounts to 14.7 percentage points in 2025. In 2000, this gap was 47.6 percentage points.
Since the legal retirement age has been raised to 66 in Belgium, Statbel is also monitoring people aged 55 to 65. (Employment rate by alternative age groups). In 2025, 57.7% of that age group were working. It was 55.1% in 2024, and back in 2000 24.4% of people aged 55 to 65 were employed.
Employment rate varies greatly by level of education
When we look at the employment rates over time per level of education, we see relatively little evolution (Chart 8). The differences between the employment rates of low-, medium- and highly-skilled people have widened slightly in recent years. In 2025, 86% of highly-skilled people aged 20-64 have a job, versus 67.8% of medium-skilled people and 46.7% of low-skilled people.
However, we see that more and more employed people have a higher education degree: in 2000, one third of employed people had a higher education degree, while in 2025, 52% of the working population is highly-skilled. In 2025, 37% of employed people were medium-skilled, the same percentage as in 2000. Low-skilled people accounted for 30% of the working population in 2000 and 11% in 2025.
Increase in the employment rate of people with a non-EU27 nationality of origin
The employment rates of persons with Belgian, EU27 and non-EU27 nationality of origin are following an upward trend. The gap between people with Belgian nationality and those with a non‑EU27 nationality narrowed slightly, but in 2025 it is still 18.4 percentage points, compared with 23 percentage points in 2003. In 2025, the employment rate of people with a non-EU27 nationality of origin is 59%, compared to 71.4% for people with an EU27 nationality and 77.4% for people of Belgian nationality.
27% of people with severe long-term limitations due to a disability, disorder or illness are employed
The employment rates of people with severe or moderate long-term limitations in their daily activities at work or outside of work due to a disability, disorder or illness are following a stable to slightly increasing trend. The employment rates vary greatly depending on the degree of long-term limitations: 60.6% of the population aged 20 to 64 with limited long-term hindrances due to a disability, disorder or illness are employed, compared to 26.8% of people who experience severe long-term limitations. The combined employment rate of both groups with long-term limitations is 46.6%. In 2025, 78.8% of people aged 20 to 64 without long-term limitations due to a disability, disorder or illness were employed.
Methodological note
The reported figures are estimations based on a sample survey. They are based on an effective sample of about 26,300 persons (respondents) between 15 and 89 years old in the fourth quarter of 2025. This represents about 12,100 respondents in Flanders, 10,800 in Wallonia and 3,400 in Brussels. For the year 2025, this is an effective sample of about 101,000 persons aged 15 to 89: about 46,200 respondents in Flanders, 40,900 in Wallonia and 13,900 in Brussels.
The Labour Force Survey is a continuous survey, which means that the sample is evenly spread over the 52 (reference) weeks of the year. The selected respondents answer a questionnaire mainly related to their activity in the course of a given reference week. The data presented here reflect the averages for the quarter or the year.
As the LFS questionnaire has changed since the first quarter 2021, as have the ILO definitions on employment and unemployment, the charts with quarterly results presented here start from the first quarter 2021.
In spite of the large sample on which the figures are based, one has to take into account (as with all results based on a sample) a certain degree of uncertainty regarding the estimated figures. This uncertainty stems, on the one hand, from sampling errors, which are random fluctuations due to the fact that the results are based on a sample. Had a different sample been drawn, the results could have been slightly different. The degree of uncertainty due to sampling errors is usually expressed by means of confidence intervals. The confidence intervals for the employment and unemployment rates in the fourth quarter of 2025 per gender and region are available in annexes 1 and 2. The confidence intervals for the annual employment, unemployment and activity rates per gender and region are available in annexes 3 to 5.
We recommend to assess the trends over several quarters or years, based on the reasoning that certain random sampling fluctuations are less visible in this way.
In addition to sampling errors, results based on a survey are also inevitably subject to non-sampling errors. These can have various causes, such as interviewer effects, coverage errors and non-response bias. These types of errors are much more difficult to measure and quantify and must be evaluated on the basis of quality reports and information about the survey methodology.
In this context, we refer to the quality issues that came to light in early 2025 and were discussed following the publication of the figures for the fourth quarter 2024. Over the past few quarters, various measures have been taken to improve the quality of the survey. On this page, we provide an update on the status of these quality-enhancing initiatives.
Although these measures are aimed at improving quality, such operational interventions inevitably have an impact on fieldwork and can therefore also influence the results. For this reason, we are currently taking a rather cautious approach to interpreting and describing quarterly and yearly developments.
Definitions
The survey is harmonised at European level. The definitions regarding employment and unemployment that are mentioned (see tab “documents”) are those of the International Labour Office (ILO) to allow international comparison.
The employment rate of people aged 20-64 is the share of persons employed in the total population aged 20 to 64.
The unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 is the share of unemployed people in the labour force (employed + unemployed) aged 15 to 64.
The activity rate of people aged 15-64 is the share of the labour force (employed + unemployed) in the total population aged 15 to 64.
The inactivity rate of people aged 15-64 is the share of non-economically active persons in the total population aged 15 to 64.
The sum of the activity rate and inactivity rate of a given population is 100%.
Low-skilled people are people who have at most a lower secondary education diploma. Medium-skilled people are people who obtained a diploma of upper secondary education but not of higher education. Highly-skilled people obtained a diploma of higher education.
The variable “nationality of origin” takes into account not only one's own current nationality, but also the first registered nationality, as well as the first registered nationality of both parents. Compared to the existing “nationality” and “country of birth” variables, this origin variable succeeds in capturing a larger group of persons of foreign origin. This variable “nationality of origin” was developed by Statbel in 2021 based on the nationality data from the National Register and could be coupled to the Labour Force Survey as of the year 2003.
Annex 1: Confidence intervals for the employment rate of people aged 20-64 year-olds (Q4 2025)
| Estimate | Confidence interval | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower limit | Upper limit | ||
| Belgium | 72.8% | 72.0% | 73.5% |
| Men | 76.3% | 75.3% | 77.2% |
| Women | 69.3% | 68.2% | 70.3% |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 64.3% | 62.1% | 66.5% |
| Flemish Region | 77.1% | 76.1% | 78.2% |
| Walloon Region | 67.9% | 66.6% | 69.2% |
Annex 2: Confidence intervals for the unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 year-olds (Q4 2025)
| Estimate | Confidence interval | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower limit | Upper limit | ||
| Belgium | 6.5% | 5.9% | 7.0% |
| Men | 6.7% | 6.0% | 7.4% |
| Women | 6.2% | 5.5% | 6.9% |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 11.7% | 9.9% | 13.6% |
| Flemish Region | 4.6% | 3.9% | 5.3% |
| Walloon Region | 8.3% | 7.4% | 9.2% |
Annex 3: Confidence intervals for the employment rate of people aged 20-64 year-olds (2025)
| Estimate | Confidence interval | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower limit | Upper limit | ||
| Belgium | 72.8% | 72.3% | 73.4% |
| Men | 76.4% | 75.8% | 77.1% |
| Women | 69.3% | 68.5% | 70.0% |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 63.9% | 62.4% | 65.3% |
| Flemish Region | 77.3% | 76.6% | 78.0% |
| Walloon Region | 67.9% | 67.0% | 68.8% |
Annex 4: Confidence intervals for the unemployment rate of people aged 15-64 year-olds (2025)
| Estimate | Confidence interval | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower limit | Upper limit | ||
| Belgium | 6.2% | 5.9% | 6.6% |
| Men | 6.8% | 6.3% | 7.2% |
| Women | 5.7% | 5.3% | 6.1% |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 12.7% | 11.4% | 14.0% |
| Flemish Region | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Walloon Region | 7.9% | 7.3% | 8.4% |
Annex 5: Confidence intervals for the inactivity rate of people aged 20-64 year-olds (2025)
| Estimate | Confidence interval | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower limit | Upper limit | ||
| Belgium | 71.9% | 71.4% | 72.3% |
| Men | 75.7% | 75.1% | 76.2% |
| Women | 68.1% | 67.4% | 68.7% |
| Brussels-Capital Region | 67.1% | 65.9% | 68.3% |
| Flemish Region | 75.1% | 74.5% | 75.8% |
| Walloon Region | 67.7% | 66.9% | 68.5% |
Employment rate, unemployment rate and activity rate by gender for Belgium and the regions, last 4 quarters
Access to latest statisticsEmployment rate and unemployment rate
Downloads
Quarterly figures
Annual figures
- Labour Force Survey: publication with detailed figures 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, more
- Annual labour market indicators according to age and sex - in absolute and relative figures 2025
- Employment and Unemployment rate per province and gender 2000-2025
- Employment rate by alternative age groups
- EU2020 indicators from LFS (2000-2025)
- Households in which nobody is doing paid work (2001-2025)
Labour force survey (LFS)
Purpose and short description
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a household sample survey, conducted throughout the year. It is based on the responses of approximately 110,000 persons aged 15-89. Its main objective is to classify the population of 15-89 years into three groups (employed, unemployed and inactive persons on the labous market) and to provide descriptive and explanatory data on every category. This survey is also carried out in the other EU Member States and is coordinated by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In Belgium, the LFS is organised by Statbel. The objective is to obtain comparable information at European level, in particular as regards employment and unemployment rates as defined by the International Labour Office (ILO), but also to collect and disseminate data that are otherwise not available, for example about the mobility of workers, the reasons for working part-time, the various forms of part-time employment, the occupation, the educational level of the working age population, ... .
Survey population
Members of private households aged 15-89.
Sample frame
Demographic data from the National Register.
Data collection method and sample size
Data are collected through face-to-face interviews for the first wave of the survey. Since 2017, there have been three (shorter) follow-up waves to which households respond online or by telephone.
Households with only inactive persons older than 64 can also be interviewed by telephone.
Every year, around 34,000 households take part in this survey.
Response rate
On average, the response rate in the first wave of the survey is around 68% and in the follow-up waves between 90% and 95%.
Periodicity
Quarterly
Release calendar
Results availability: around 3 months after the end of the reference period.
Forms
- Labour Force Survey 2025 (PDF, 1 Mb)
Definitions regarding employment and unemployment
The survey is harmonised at European level. The definitions regarding employment and unemployment that are mentioned are those of the International Labour Office (ILO) to allow international comparison.
- People with a job (employed people) comprise all people who during the reference week performed some work ‘for wage or salary’ or ‘for profit’ regardless of the duration (even if this was only one hour), or who had a job but were temporarily absent. For example, one can be temporarily absent for holidays, illness, technical or economic reasons (temporary unemployment),....
Family workers are also included in the category ‘employed’.
Since 2021, people who have been temporarily unemployed for an uninterrupted period of more than three months are counted as unemployed or inactive, and no longer as employed.
- The unemployed comprise all people who:
(a) during the reference week were without work, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment;
(b) were available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment within two weeks after the reference week;
(c) were actively seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps during the last four weeks including the reference week to seek paid employment or self-employment, or who had found a job to start within a maximum period of three months.
Please note: The ILO unemployment figures are unrelated to any possible registration with the VDAB, Actiris, FOREM or the ADG, or to the receipt of unemployment benefits from ONEM (National Employment Office). As a result, they cannot be compared with administrative unemployment figures.
- The labour force is made up of the employed and the unemployed.
- The economically inactive population comprises all people who were not considered as employed or unemployed.
- The employment rate represents employed persons as a percentage of the same age population.
- The employment rate as part of the Europe 2020 Strategy represents the share of persons employed in the population aged 20 to 64.
- The unemployment rate represents the share of unemployed people in the labour force (employed + unemployed) within a given age group.
- The economic activity rate represents the share of the labour force (employed + unemployed) in the total population within a given age group.
The above indicators (employment rate, unemployment rate and economic activity rate) are the most important indicators for international comparisons of the labour market evolution.
Low-skilled people are people who have at best a lower secondary education diploma. Medium-skilled people have obtained an upper secondary education diploma, but no higher education diploma. High-skilled people have a higher education diploma.
Metadata
Survey methodology
- Modifications to the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in 2021
- LFS: Methodological improvements to the Labour Force Survey 2017 (PDF, 99 Kb)
- LFS: Presentation of the survey until 2016 (NL-FR)
- LFS: Presentation of the survey from 2017 (NL-FR)
- Measures to improve the quality of the LFS survey