By Müge Adalet McGowan, Belgium desk, OECD Economics Department
Job creation has lowered the unemployment rate to record low levels at 5.2% in the third quarter of 2019, but the Belgian labour market still faces many challenges, including those related to the changing nature of work. The main ones are low employment, primarily due to high levels of inactivity, and a large employment gap for disadvantaged groups. Low employment rates reflect barriers to finding a job such as low levels of skills and weak work incentives (Hijzen et al., 2020). The 2020 Economic Survey of Belgium discusses policies that could help to address these challenges and promote a more inclusive labour market.
Rising skill shortages, especially in information and communication technology, signals a need to better align skills with labour market needs and re-skilling (Figure 1). In addition, the success of recent pension reforms will depend on keeping older workers attached to the labour market, which requires more incentives for them to work, but also more willingness of companies to hire them. Participation in lifelong learning is key for that purpose. However, at 8.5% in 2018, it is below the EU average of 11.1% and training requirements, which are at the firm level, do not guarantee that workers that need it the most benefit from it. The 2020 Economic Survey of Belgium recommends the introduction of individual training allowances, with guidance support on training programmes, and targeted support, such as higher training time and/or funding requirements, for disadvantaged workers.
Self-employment, at around 15% of total employment, is higher in Belgium than a number of peer countries (Figure 2). Non-standard employment can provide greater flexibility for workers and firms, facilitate the emergence of new business models and could provide a stepping stone to standard employment for some. However, they can also raise concerns about job quality and potentially increase disparities, which might require a fundamental change in labour market, skills and social policies. Belgium has already made much progress in this area, but more can be done. The 2020 Economic Survey of Belgium recommends further aligning the pensions system of the self-employed with that of dependent employees, for example through the harmonisation of contribution rates and pension calculations.
While the unemployment rate has declined, the long-term unemployment rate remains high at around 50%. Given the significant disparities in labour market outcomes in Belgium, targeting of activation measures could be improved further, and the benefits of public employment services making greater use of statistical profiling tools are likely to be substantial. Extending the use of tools for the profiling of individualised risks can be a good way to identify job-seekers who are more at risk of becoming long-term unemployed and boost their employment.
References:
Hijzen et al. (2020), “Lowering employment barriers in Belgium and Norway”, OECD Jobs Strategy Implementation Note, February.
OECD (2020), OECD Economic Surveys: Belgium 2020, OECD Publishing, Paris.