How many people have a job helps determine how much tax and contributions come in to pay for pensions and healthcare, among other things. Here you can see how many adults work, how many people are looking for work and for how long, how many older people are still working and how many people are long-term sick.
A government is never the only cause of how a figure develops. Many figures only respond to policy years later, and they also depend on the world economy, European rules and the policies of the regions and communities.
Employment rate
How many adults have a job?
72.8%
Belgium, 2025
That is lower than the EU average (76.1%).
In 2015 it was 67.2%.
Students, retirees under 65, the long-term sick and job seekers do not work and lower this figure. Belgium aims for 80% by 2030.
Target 80%EU 76.1%
50%100%
7.2 percentage points to go to the target.Definition and source
According to the international definition: people without work who are actively looking and can start soon. This is not the same as the number of people receiving unemployment benefit.
Definition and source
Definition
Share of unemployed people in the labour force aged 15 to 74 (international definition).
How many employees and unemployed people are long-term sick?
537,728
Belgium, 2025 provisional
In 2015 it was 346,971.
This is a number of people, not a percentage. According to the RIZIV/INAMI, mental disorders and diseases of the muscles and joints are the largest groups. The latest years are provisional: the RIZIV/INAMI may still revise them.
Definition and source
Definition
Number of employees and unemployed people in invalidity on 31 December: they have been unable to work for more than a year and receive a benefit from their health insurance fund. Self-employed people and civil servants with their own scheme are not included.