Skip to content Skip to menu Skip to footer

Work in Flanders 2016 - Lisbon

Past
Event date:
29 - 30 September 2016
Event type:
Online / Onsite
Event venue:
Lisbon
Registration status:
Closed

Belgium and Flanders

Belgium

Belgium is centrally located in Europe and is a federal state, subdivided into communities and regions.

On the 1st January 2014, Belgium had a population of almost11.2 million and an active population of more than 4.9 million. The employment rate(the number of people with a job expressed as a percentage of the active population) was 62.1% - 67.2% if you consider the age group 20-64; and 81% if you consider active population with graduate qualifications (levels 5 to 8).

In the 4th quarter of 2014, the national unemployment rate was 8.6%. The unemployment rate was lower in Flanders (5.1 %)than in Wallonia (12%) and the Brussels-Capital Region (18.5%).

Sourcewww.werk.be

The Belgian labour market also displays sharp differences between and within the regions. Many vacancies may be difficult to fill despite a high unemployment rate. Various factors can account for this imbalance, including a mismatch between the profiles of jobseekers and what employers require in terms of qualifications, skills and experience.

Further info:

Labour market + living and working in Belgium:

Public Employment Services in Belgium:

  • VDAB (for Flanders; official language: Dutch) 
  • ACTIRIS (for the Brussels Capital-region; official languages: French and Dutch) 
  • Le FOREM (for the Walloon region; official language: French)
  • ADG (for the German community; official language: German)

     

Flanders

One of the 3 regions in Belgium, Flanders, Dutch-speaking, is integrated in one of the most dynamic economic areas in Central Europe and has regained an interesting growth trend since the end of 2013. However, employers are facing some shortages of highly-skilled professionals, namely in the Engineering, ICT, Construction, Technology, Web Development and Healthcare domains.

Employers are not only looking for new employees (demand to expand), but are also looking to fill in the vacancies for those employees who leave the labour market (all too often too early – replacement).

Facts on Engineering and IT profiles:

Level of education - Higher education (Bachelor - Master) with EU recognition

Language @work: English/French depending on the company

Most commonly asked:

  • Software engineers 
  • Embedded systyems engineers
  • Electronical engineers
  • Micro electronics
  • IT analyst developer (JAVA, .net, c++, C#)
  • Project managers IT and/or Communication
  • Mechanical engineers
  • Automation engineers
  • Technical designers

     

VDAB is recruiting in Europe according to its Concentric Model. We mainly look abroad for highly qualified profiles and our most structural shortages.

In the Healthcare sector in particular, recent developments show a decline in the demand for nurses. In the coming years there will however be a significant increase of jobs, due to the retirement of nursing staff and the creation of new care centers, namely for elderly people.

For the healthcare sector Dutch language skills are particularly critical – but some employers are willing and organized to provide initial language training as part of an integration package. For IT specialists and Engineers, good knowledge of English is often (but nog always) enough. 

Further info:

Announcements

How to make the best use of the event online

Work in Flanders is starting already in a few hours!

Cannot join us in Lisbon? Wondering how to take the best advantage of the online event?

Here's what you can do:

  • follow the Programme being streamed live (presentations will also be recorded and made available after the event);
  • make use of the Live Chat
    • Helpdesk (ensured by EURES Portugal) will be available for you throughout the event; we can guide you in the Programme, in the use of the platform (e.g. job search and how to apply) and provide you with some tips on EURES and related services;
    • Work in Flanders, from 10:00 to 16:00 (Lisbon time), can advise you on more specific questions regarding living and working in Flanders, how to apply to a Flemish employer and / or on the jobs being advertised;                
  • apply to the jobs matching your profile and expectations (be selective! and... you should be logged in); even a few weeks after the event, you might be invited for an interview, either online or in Belgium.
ICT opportunities

Have you noticed these interesting career opportunities in the ICT area? Cegeka, based in Flanders, Belgium, is currently looking for Java & .NET developers. Mind the fact that they continuously invest in talent management to ensure that each employee can realize his/her own potential, that they have a leading position in quality and tailormade approach and that they are located in a cultural and geographical hotspot.

What Flanders has to offer: IT career opportunities

Have you noticed these interesting career opportunities in the ICT area? Cegeka, based in Flanders, Belgium, is currently looking for Java & .NET developers. Mind the fact that they continuously invest in talent management to ensure that each employee can realize his/her own potential, that they have a leading position in quality and tailormade approach and that they are located in a cultural and geographical hotspot.

Work in Flanders team presents some employers

Looking for ICT and/or engineering opportunities Belgium? Let us introduce you to a selection of companies from the Northern region of this country, offering new opportunities in various occupational areas covering ICT, construction and industry. Preparing, as we speak, to provide you with face to face information (Cegeka, Sofico, Skyline, Jan DeNul, Qspin, IMPACT) and/or facilitating applications online (All European Careers, Besix, TeamTalent).

Check out the details on Work in Flanders, they would surely like to meet you!

 

 

 

Work in Flanders 2016 - Lisbon is open for registration

We are happy to announce that the Work in Flanders 2016 - Lisbon event is open for registration!