On the labor market in Belgium, the impact of the coronavirus crisis less strong than feared – Companies
The impact of the coronavirus crisis on the Belgian labor market has been less strong than feared, according to the latest labor market indicators, numbering 230 for the year 2020, published on Tuesday by the FPS Employment. Based on provisional data, the situation remains fairly stable also in 2021.
Until 2019, the Belgian labor market was developing favorably in all areas. But the sudden emergence of the coronavirus pandemic put an abrupt end to this development.
Thus, the employment rate – share of workers in the active population – fell from 70.5% in 2019 to 70% in 2020. “This remains above pre-2019 levels”, explains the SPF Use. The European average employment rate is higher, at 72.4%.
The unemployment rate also remained historically low at 5.4%. It was just a little lower in 2019 (5.2%). “Even the share of the long-term unemployed in total unemployment – a classic pain point in the Belgian labor market – has remained at a relatively low level.”
The impact of the pandemic was greater in other areas such as the explosion of temporary unemployment in March and April 2020. In the first half of 2021, temporary unemployment was still at a higher level than the financial crisis of 2008-2009 .
The increase in working from home (from 18.9% to 29%) is also striking. The increase is mainly due to people working from home more than half the time.
Finally, the annual number of hours worked per worker fell from 1,576 hours in 2019 to 1,481 in 2020.
Until 2019, the Belgian labor market was developing favorably in all areas. But the sudden emergence of the coronavirus pandemic put an abrupt end to this development. Thus, the employment rate – share of workers in the active population – fell from 70.5% in 2019 to 70% in 2020. “This remains above pre-2019 levels”, explains the SPF Use. The European average employment rate is higher, at 72.4%. The unemployment rate also remained historically low at 5.4%. It was just a little lower in 2019 (5.2%). “Even the share of the long-term unemployed in total unemployment – a classic pain point in the Belgian labor market – has remained at a relatively low level.” The impact of the pandemic was greater in other areas such as the explosion of temporary unemployment in March and April 2020. In the first half of 2021, temporary unemployment was still at a higher level than the financial crisis of 2008-2009 . The increase in working from home (from 18.9% to 29%) is also striking. The increase is mainly due to people working from home more than half the time. Finally, the annual number of hours worked per worker fell from 1,576 hours in 2019 to 1,481 in 2020.