Labour · Europe & Central Asia · High income
Belgium: the labour market
Labour force is 5.5m (2025), 82nd of 187 in the world and 17th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Participation rate is 54.3% (2025), 144th of 187 in the world and 41st of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. Women's participation is 49.8% (2025), 120th of 187 in the world and 36th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.
Labour force
Belgium
Participation rate
BelgiumEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
13 indicators
Labour: Belgium in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour forceLabour force, total | 5.5m2025 | 82/187 | 17/49 | 4.4m | 4.9m | 5.1m | +9.4%since 2015 | 429m | 734m | 3.7bn | |
| Participation rateLabour force participation, % of 15+ | 54.3%2025 | 144/187 | 41/49 | 52.2% | 54.2% | 53.4% | +0.9 ppsince 2015 | 58.2% | 61.0% | 61.0% | |
| Women's participationFemale labour force participation, % of women 15+ | 49.8%2025 | 120/187 | 36/49 | 43.6% | 47.8% | 48.7% | +1.7 ppsince 2015 | 51.1% | 54.3% | 48.9% | |
| Employment rateEmployment to population ratio, 15+ (ILO) | 51.1%2025 | 136/187 | 38/49 | 48.8% | 49.7% | 50.4% | +2.2 ppsince 2015 | 55.1% | 58.3% | 58.1% | |
| UnemploymentUnemployment, % of labour force (ILO) | 5.9%2025 | 81/187 | 24/49 | 6.6% | 8.3% | 5.5% | −2.6 ppsince 2015 | 5.4% | 4.4% | 4.8% | |
| Female unemploymentFemale unemployment, % of female labour force (ILO) | 5.6%2025 | 97/187 | 25/49 | 8.3% | 8.5% | 5.4% | −2.1 ppsince 2015 | 5.7% | 4.6% | 4.9% | |
| Youth unemploymentYouth unemployment, ages 15–24 (ILO) | 17.8%2025 | 64/187 | 20/49 | 15.2% | 22.4% | 15.3% | −4.3 ppsince 2015 | 14.0% | 11.5% | 13.4% | |
| Youth NEET rateYouth not in education, employment or training, % | 7.4%2025 | 156/170 | 36/46 | 9.0% | 10.9% | 10.0% | −4.8 ppsince 2015 | 11.4% | 10.6% | — | |
| Wage workersWage and salaried workers, % of total employment | 85.4%2025 | 44/187 | 26/49 | 84.0% | 85.6% | 84.5% | +0.6 ppsince 2015 | 83.3% | 88.9% | 53.6% | |
| Vulnerable employmentVulnerable employment, % of total employment (ILO) | 11.0%2025 | 144/187 | 25/49 | 13.0% | 11.2% | 12.0% | −0.8 ppsince 2015 | 12.9% | 8.0% | 42.4% | |
| Jobs in agricultureEmployment in agriculture, % of total employment | 1.0%2025 | 178/187 | 47/49 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 1.0% | −0.2 ppsince 2015 | 6.7% | 2.9% | 25.8% | |
| Jobs in industryEmployment in industry, % of total employment | 19.2%2025 | 90/187 | 33/49 | 25.8% | 23.4% | 20.7% | −2.2 ppsince 2015 | 23.7% | 22.2% | 23.7% | |
| Jobs in servicesEmployment in services, % of total employment | 79.8%2025 | 20/187 | 7/49 | 72.3% | 75.3% | 78.3% | +2.4 ppsince 2015 | 69.7% | 74.9% | 50.6% |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Women's participation+1.7 pp49.8% in 2025
- Employment rate+2.2 pp51.1% in 2025
- Unemployment−2.6 pp5.9% in 2025
- Female unemployment−2.1 pp5.6% in 2025
Worse than ten years ago
No rated indicator got worse over the decade.
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Belgium and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Belgium. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Belgium | Germany | France | Luxembourg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force | 5.5m2025 | 43.5m2025 | 31.9m2025 | 355,9742025 |
| Participation rate | 54.3%2025 | 60.6%2025 | 55.3%2025 | 61.5%2025 |
| Women's participation | 49.8%2025 | 55.3%2025 | 51.5%2025 | 57.5%2025 |
| Employment rate | 51.1%2025 | 58.3%2025 | 51.2%2025 | 57.6%2025 |
| Unemployment | 5.9%2025 | 3.7%2025 | 7.5%2025 | 6.3%2025 |
| Female unemployment | 5.6%2025 | 3.4%2025 | 7.5%2025 | 6.5%2025 |
| Youth unemployment | 17.8%2025 | 6.9%2025 | 18.9%2025 | 21.5%2025 |
| Youth NEET rate | 7.4%2025 | 8.2%2025 | 11.0%2025 | 7.7%2025 |
| Wage workers | 85.4%2025 | 91.9%2025 | 86.7%2025 | 89.7%2025 |