Early school leavers

In 2022, early school leaving continues to decrease among the 18-24-year-olds

Work & training
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%.

Belgium
Content

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.
Brussels
Content

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.
Flanders
Content

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.
Wallonia
Content

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.

Labour force survey (LFS)

Purpose and short description

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is a socio-economic household sample survey. Its main objective is to classify the working age population (15 and older) into three groups (employed, unemployed and inactive persons) 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 or older.

Sample frame

Demographic data from the National Register.

Data collection method and sample size

Data are collected through face-to-face interviews. Since 2017, there have been three (shorter) follow-up surveys 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 47,000 households receive a letter asking them to take part in this survey.

Response rate

The response rate is above 75%.

Periodicity

Quarterly

Release calendar

Results availability: around 3 months after the end of the reference period.

Forms

Definitions

Unemployed (ILO): According to the criteria of the International Labour Office, the unemployed include all people aged 15 years and over who: a) were without work during the reference week 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.

Employed population (ILO): The employed comprise all people aged 15 and over who during the reference week performed some work for at least one hour for wage or salary, or for profit, 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’. The employed are divided into three groups according to their professional status:

Education level (3 classes): Low-skilled people are people who have at most a diploma of lower secondary education. Medium-skilled people are people who obtained a diploma of upper secondary education but not of higher education. Highly-skilled people have a diploma of higher education.

Early school leavers: the percentage of people aged 18 to 24 who did not complete upper secondary education and who is no longer involved in any form of education or training.

Metadata

  • Employment, unemployment, labour market (NL-FR)
  • Labour force survey (LFS) (NL-FR)

Survey methodology

Regulations

  • Royal Decree of 10 January 1999 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey (NL-FR)
  • Royal decree amending the royal decree of 10 January 1999 on the organisation of a labour force sample survey (NL-FR)