Your Trusted Partner for Recruitment in Belgium

To better fulfill your recruitment needs, we at Remote People are here to help you find top talent in Belgium more effectively than recruiting on your own. Our team understands the local language, customs, and the intricacies of the Belgian talent market, giving you a significant advantage in securing the right candidates.

We know where to advertise your job openings to ensure maximum exposure and attract the best talent. Additionally, we assist in designing competitive, locally-appropriate compensation packages that not only appeal to top candidates but also help you optimize costs. 

Get in touch with us to navigate Belgium’s recruitment landscape with confidence and ease.

Key Takeaways

  1. Belgium’s economy is currently growing faster than the average for Europe.
  2. Belgium has a highly skilled, well-educated population.
  3. Belgians are diverse and speak several important European languages.
  4. Recruitment agencies and EORs can help local and foreign companies recruit talent.

Belgium may be a small country, but its population is industrious and highly skilled. The population of Little Belgium is only 11.7 million, yet the country enjoys a high standard of living thanks to a GDP of over 630 billion USD. This GDP is expected to grow by 1.3% in 2024 and continue at this rate for the next few years.

At the same time, the country is struggling with inflation, which is set to rise to 4% year-on-year, largely due to unstable energy prices across Europe. Unemployment is set to reach 5.6% this year, which is less than the EU zone rate of 6.5%. All told, Belgium is soldiering on during tough economic times, and its workers need more employment.

This might be just the right time to take on Belgian employees or to take the leap to set up shop in this vibrant European nation.

Overview of Belgium Recruitment Industry

Belgium is currently experiencing a period of slow but steady growth and higher-than-normal unemployment. This means that many skilled workers are being underutilized, and that provides opportunities to you as an employer. Belgians are known to be industrious and dedicated to their jobs, normally averaging only four employers throughout their careers.

These days, Belgians have high job satisfaction, motivation, and job security. However, they have low-to-average optimism about their career development – many Belgians are looking for more.

Belgium’s economy is dominated by the service sector, with people employed as office clerks, shop assistants, cleaners, teachers, health care professionals, and finance and tech specialists. However, it also has significant employment in the pharmaceutical, metallurgy, rubber and plastic, and chemical industries.

Most Belgian firms reach out to prospective employees using social media and major job sites, including Jobat, Indeed, and VDAB. Employers may also use global recruitment agencies to find professionals to fill their vacancies.

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Benefits of Recruiting in Belgium

Whether you’re looking to expand your business into Belgium or simply hire Belgians to work for you remotely, recruiting in Belgium has several benefits, which include:

Diversity and Languages

Belgium is situated in a unique position in Europe, right at the border between Romance and Germanic languages and cultures. It also has a history of international trade and colonialism in Africa, South America, and Asia. As such, it is a surprisingly diverse country, with only 65.5% of people coming from a Belgian ethnic background.

Surrounded by France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany, Belgians speak French (89%), Dutch (75%), and German (23%) as their first or second languages, and of course, English (40%) as an international language. This ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity can be a great strength for companies doing business with the rest of Europe.

Skilled and Educated Workforce

According to 2023 statistics, 51.6% of 25-34-year-old Belgians hold tertiary education degrees. However, 85% of 25-64-year-olds have medium to high skills. Belgium is also consistently rated in the top ten for education in the world. Combined with a somewhat high unemployment rate, this means there are plenty of skilled and educated workers looking for jobs now.

Base in Europe

If you’re looking to start doing business in Europe, Belgium is a good place to start. While the corporate tax rate is a bit high at 25%, this country is a major logistical hub and has excellent connections to the rest of Europe.

It’s also a decision-making and communications center. With so many bi- and trilingual residents, it’s also a place to make connections to the powerhouse economies of France and Germany.

Legal Considerations When Recruiting in Belgium

Belgium’s workers and employers are both well-protected by legislation that respects employers’ needs and workers’ rights. As a member state of the EU, Belgium is also governed by EU regulations. When recruiting employees in Belgium, it’s important to keep these considerations in mind:

Working Hours & Overtime

Belgian workers typically work eight hours a day, five days a week, for a total 40-hour work week. They can work overtime, but cannot work more than eleven hours a day or 50 hours per week total. Employers cannot require overtime of more than 78 hours in three months or 91 hours per year.

However, voluntary overtime is allowed for an additional 100 hours per year. Overtime is paid at 150% of regular wages and 200% on Sundays and public holidays.

Paid Leave

Belgians are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of paid vacation per year. In addition, they’re entitled to 10 paid public holidays per calendar year. If they work during a holiday, they make 200% of their normal salary and also receive a compensatory rest day. Maternity leave is granted for 15 weeks or 17 weeks for multiple births.

Salaries

As of 1 May 2024, the Belgian minimum monthly salary increased to 2,070 EUR/month, making it one of the highest in Europe. However, this is only the minimum, and the average monthly salary in this country is much higher at 4,748 EUR/month. This is certainly a consideration when hiring Belgian workers.

13th month

Workers who have worked at least half a year receive a mandatory 13th-month bonus at the end of each year.

Social Contributions

Employees pay deductions of 13.07% of their gross salary for social contributions. Employers pay more than double at a rate of 27%. These contributions go toward pensions, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, family allowance, and disability benefits.

Taxes

Belgians pay between 25% and 50% of their gross salary in taxes. Employers are required to withhold these payments and provide workers with tax summaries annually.

Choosing a Recruitment Agency in Belgium

A recruitment agency can match Belgian employees to your company’s needs. However, once you opt to work with one of these service providers, you’ll find that there are hundreds to choose from. To help you make an informed choice and get the services you require, consider the following factors:

Services

Brainstorm the services you need and make sure you look only at agencies that provide all of these services. You may need help with hiring, contract creation, making offers, onboarding, and even training.

Communication

Some agencies only speak with you once to find out the positions you’re hiring for and again when they want to bill you for placing an employee. However, more professional agencies will work closely with you to understand your specific needs and preferences so they can tailor their recruitment accordingly. Choose an agency that gives you lots of options for communication and gets back to you quickly.

Knowledge and Experience

Newer service providers may not have found their feet yet in this competitive industry. Experienced agencies, on the other hand, will have extensive knowledge and contacts. They should be able to fill your vacancies more quickly and appropriately.

Reviews and Ratings

If you want to know how well a recruitment agency performs, look for their online ratings and reviews. You can read about how well they treat recruits and how satisfied their past clients are with the appropriateness of the candidates they suggest.

Fees

You’ll need to choose a service provider that falls within your budget. To do this, you’ll need to find out how the agency charges for recruitment, as many charge a flat fee while others ask for a fee equal to a percentage of the worker’s salary. Ask for quotes in advance to avoid misunderstandings and hidden extra charges.

Belgium’s unemployment rate is a bit high, and the country’s GDP is slowing growing in 2024. Together, these factors and the fact that Belgian workers are highly skilled, diverse, and multilingual make now an excellent time to consider starting a business in Belgium or hiring Belgian workers. These talented workers may be just the right fit for your company’s needs.

Recruit Top Talent Across Europe with Our Recruitment Expertise

Navigating the complexities of hiring and workforce management across different countries can be challenging. Partnering with a reliable recruitment agency ensures you stay compliant with local labor laws, streamline the hiring process, and secure top talent. Learn how Remote People can help you recruit in the following countries:

Recruitment Agencies in Europe
AndorraAustriaAzerbaijan
BelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgaria
CroatiaCyprusCzech Republic
DenmarkEstoniaFinland
FranceGermanyGreece
GreenlandHungaryIceland
IrelandItalyKosovo
LatviaLiechtensteinLithuania
LuxembourgMaltaMayotte
MoldovaMonacoMontenegro
NetherlandsNorth MacedoniaNorway
PolandPortugalRomania
San MarinoSlovakiaSlovenia
SpainSwedenSwitzerland
TurkeyUkraineUnited Kingdom

Ready to find your next star performer or build a leadership team in Belgium? Contact Remote People today.

Ready to recruit in Belgium? Remote People can help you with this.

Contact us today to discuss your recruitment goals and discover how we can assist you in achieving your business objectives.