Once again, French citizens make up 76% of incoming cross-border workers in Belgium, i.e. people who live in a neighbouring country but commute into Belgium for work.
The figures were released in a recent analysis by SD Worx of data from Belgium’s National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (Inami), taken on 30 June 2024.
A total of 39,252 individuals now travel into Belgium from France, with this being the only nationality group to have increased over the past five years.
In contrast, the number of Belgians working abroad has declined by 6% since 2019.
The most significant drop has been witnessed in the Netherlands, where the number of Belgian workers decreased by 31% (around 10,000 people) over five years.
However, there has been an increase in Belgian workers in other countries.
As of 30 June 2024, Luxembourg remains the most popular destination for Belgian cross-border workers, making up 57% of outgoing workers, with an increase of 9%.
Following Luxembourg, Belgians favour the Netherlands (25%), France (10%, up by 4%), and Germany (8%, up by 5%).
Thousands of cross-border workers travel across Belgium's borders every day. Credit: Belga/ Eric Lalmand
Regarding workers coming into Belgium, the number of French workers is the only one to have increased by 4%, now constituting 76% of Belgium’s cross-border workforce.
Workers from the Netherlands account for 21% despite a 12% drop over five years, while Germans make up just 2% (down by 24%) and Luxembourgers 1% (down by 11%).
The province of Hainaut hosts the most French workers, approximately 15,000, followed by Namur (12,386), Luxembourg (3,661), and West Flanders (3,311), where their numbers have grown by 2,237 since 2019.
In contrast, Dutch workers prefer the provinces of East Flanders (7,018) and Antwerp (2,595).
