In 2022, early school leaving continues to decrease among the 18-24-year-olds
6.4% of people aged 18-24 were early school leavers in 2022. This is the percentage of people aged 18 to 24 who did not complete secondary education and who are no longer involved in any form of education or training. 2022 confirms the downward trend that has been underway for years.
The percentage is 8% among men and 4.8% among women.
8.6% of people aged 18-24 were early school leavers in Wallonia. Then comes Brussels with 7.4% and Flanders with 4.9%.
Early school leavers - annual averages
| Belgium | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2014 (b) | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (d) | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 13.8% | 12.9% | 11.9% | 9.8% | 10.1% | 8.6% | 8.4% | 8.1% | 6.7% | 6.4% |
| Men | 16.5% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 11.8% | 11.6% | 10.6% | 10.5% | 10.2% | 8.9% | 8.0% |
| Women | 11.0% | 10.5% | 10.0% | 7.7% | 8.6% | 6.5% | 6.2% | 5.9% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Figures are always annual averages. Definition of "early school leavers": percentage of persons aged 18 to 24 who did not complete upper secondary education and who is not involved in further education or training any more. People in school holidays are not considered as early school leavers. (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (c) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (d) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire and the change in the ILO definitions of unemployment and employment. | ||||||||||
Early school leavers - annual averages
| Brussels-Capital Region | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2014 (b) | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (d) | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 20.7% | 19.4% | 18.4% | 14.4% | 15.8% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 9.1% | 7.4% |
| Men | 25.2% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 17.5% | 16.9% | 12.3% | 15.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% | 8.8% |
| Women | 16.1% | 18.4% | 16.5% | 11.2% | 14.8% | 9.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% | 6.7% | 6.0% |
| Figures are always annual averages. Definition of "early school leavers": percentage of persons aged 18 to 24 who did not complete upper secondary education and who is not involved in further education or training any more. People in school holidays are not considered as early school leavers. (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (c) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (d) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire and the change in the ILO definitions of unemployment and employment. | ||||||||||
Early school leavers - annual averages
| Flemish Region | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2014 (b) | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (d) | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.6% | 10.7% | 9.6% | 7.0% | 7.2% | 7.3% | 6.2% | 6.7% | 5.3% | 4.9% |
| Men | 13.9% | 13.2% | 11.4% | 8.3% | 8.6% | 9.5% | 7.6% | 9.0% | 7.0% | 5.5% |
| Women | 9.2% | 8.0% | 7.7% | 5.7% | 5.8% | 5.1% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 3.5% | 4.2% |
| Figures are always annual averages. Definition of "early school leavers": percentage of persons aged 18 to 24 who did not complete upper secondary education and who is not involved in further education or training any more. People in school holidays are not considered as early school leavers. (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (c) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (d) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire and the change in the ILO definitions of unemployment and employment. | ||||||||||
Early school leavers - annual averages
| Walloon Region | 2000 | 2005 (a) | 2010 | 2014 (b) | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (d) | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 15.5% | 14.6% | 13.7% | 12.9% | 13.1% | 9.9% | 10.9% | 9.8% | 8.3% | 8.6% |
| Men | 18.4% | 17.0% | 15.9% | 15.9% | 15.0% | 11.9% | 13.9% | 12.4% | 11.3% | 11.7% |
| Women | 12.6% | 12.1% | 11.5% | 9.9% | 11.1% | 8.0% | 7.6% | 7.2% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| Figures are always annual averages. Definition of "early school leavers": percentage of persons aged 18 to 24 who did not complete upper secondary education and who is not involved in further education or training any more. People in school holidays are not considered as early school leavers. (a) Due to a modification of the variables on education and training, the results are not fully comparable to the previous years. (c) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (d) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire and the change in the ILO definitions of unemployment and employment. | ||||||||||
Definitions regarding employment and unemployment
The Labour Force Survey is a sample survey among private households, held throughout the year. It is based on the replies of almost 123,000 persons (respondents) of working age (15 and older).
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.
- The employed comprise all persons who during the reference period performed some work for wage or salary, in cash or in kind, or who were temporarily not at work during the reference period and had a formal attachment to their job. This also includes family workers.
- The unemployed comprise all persons who:
(a) during the reference period 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 period;
(c) were 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 later, i.e. within a period of at most three months from the end of the reference week.
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 persons who were not considered 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.
Forms
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Labour force Survey (PDF, 594.86 Kb)
Methodology
LFS : Methodological improvements of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) 2017 (PDF, 97 Kb)