On Wednesday, the Walloon Training and Employment Office (Forem) published its new list of occupations with a labour shortage. In 2023, the list includes 158 jobs, 17 more than last year.
The list includes 66 occupations with a critical shortage, for which employers are experiencing difficulties with recruiting and 92 occupations where there is a lack of applicants.
22 occupations, like real estate agents, credit advisers and industrial maintenance managers disappeared from the previous edition, but 42 new occupations are experiencing staff shortages. Asbestos removers, agricultural and forestry machinery operators, beauticians, opticians, and pharmacists are some of them.
As in previous years, the construction sector remains the most chronically understaffed with 56 occupations, ranging from scaffolding erectors to natural stone cutters, having difficulties recruiting.
Forem also notes an increase in sector facing labour shortages compared to last year. Despite the war in Ukraine and the ensuing energy and inflationary crises, the employment office has collected 476,000 job offers in 2022, 8.2% more than in 2021.
Related News
- Belgian economy ranks 13th in World Competitiveness Ranking
- €2.2 million in EU aid allocated for 603 laid-off Belgian workers
- Belgium pushes for greater employment rate, targets stay-at-home parents
Several functions are suffering from structural recruitment difficulties. Among these, some stand out because a large number of workers are approaching retirement age and are at risk of not being replaced in the coming years.
For 44 of the 158 functions on the list, at least a third of their workers are over the age of fifty, particularly for heavy goods vehicle drivers, nurses and roofers.
You can check the full list (in French) here.
