In the second quarter of 2023, 36% of unemployed individuals were employed a year later, according to figures released by Belgian statistical agency Statbel. The same proportion remains unemployed, while 27.8% have become inactive.
Between mid-2021 and the end of 2022, job seekers faced more difficulties transitioning to employment. This trend appears to have reversed since the beginning of 2023, Statbel noted.
In absolute numbers, this means that out of 284,000 unemployed individuals in the second quarter of 2023, 102,000 are still unemployed, 103,000 are employed, and 79,000 have become inactive a year later. The inactive category includes those who are no longer job hunting and/or are unavailable for work within two weeks.
Significant regional differences were observed. Among Flemish job seekers from the second quarter of 2023, 27.3% remained unemployed after one year, compared to 51.6% in Brussels and 34.9% in Wallonia.
The vast majority of inactive individuals remain inactive a year later. Of the 3.44 million people who were inactive in the second quarter of 2023, 89.7% (3.09 million) remain in that status a year later.
