2022 confirms the increase in the education level of 30-34-year-olds
The share of 30-34-year-olds with a higher education diploma in Belgium amounts to 53.1% in 2022 (49.9% in 2021). As in previous years, this figure has never been this high.
There is a big difference between women and men: 60.6% of women aged 30-34 have a higher education diploma compared to 45.6% of men.
With 60.5%, Brussels has the highest rate of 30-34-year-olds with a higher education diploma. This figure is 56.2% in Flanders and 44.3% in Wallonia.
Share of people aged 30-34 having completed higher education
Belgium | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (b) | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 35.2% | 39.2% | 44.4% | 42.7% | 47.5% | 47.5% | 47.8% | 49.9% | 53.1% |
Men | 33.3% | 35.1% | 39.0% | 36.7% | 40.6% | 39.8% | 40.2% | 43.3% | 45.6% |
Women | 37.2% | 43.5% | 50.0% | 48.7% | 54.4% | 55.2% | 55.5% | 56.4% | 60.6% |
Brussels-Capital Region | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (b) | 2022 |
Total | 43.9% | 49.8% | 48.7% | 48.4% | 56.2% | 55.6% | 58.2% | 58.4% | 60.5% |
Men | 41.2% | 49.1% | 48.0% | 47.1% | 54.6% | 52.8% | 55.9% | 56.8% | 53.8% |
Women | 46.8% | 50.6% | 49.4% | 49.7% | 57.7% | 58.2% | 60.4% | 60.0% | 67.1% |
Flemish Region | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (b) | 2022 |
Total | 36.4% | 40.0% | 45.0% | 43.2% | 48.2% | 48.5% | 49.3% | 52.4% | 56.2% |
Men | 34.9% | 35.5% | 38.6% | 36.0% | 39.4% | 39.8% | 40.8% | 44.8% | 48.9% |
Women | 38.0% | 44.6% | 51.4% | 50.4% | 56.9% | 57.2% | 57.8% | 59.9% | 63.5% |
Walloon Region | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 (b) | 2022 |
Total | 30.0% | 33.9% | 41.5% | 39.1% | 42.5% | 42.2% | 40.6% | 41.7% | 44.3% |
Men | 27.6% | 28.9% | 35.6% | 33.2% | 36.4% | 34.1% | 32.1% | 34.7% | 35.9% |
Women | 32.5% | 38.9% | 47.5% | 45.0% | 48.6% | 50.3% | 49.1% | 48.7% | 52.7% |
(a) Break in the results following a considerable reform of the Labour Force Survey. (b) Break in the results in 2021 due to the revision of the questionnaire. |
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
- Labour Force Survey 2020 (PDF, 541 Kb)
- Labour Force Survey 2021 (PDF, 1 Mb)
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)