First Decline in the Number of Job Seekers in Flanders Since 2022
August 2026 - After more than three and a half years of continuous growth, the number of job seekers in Flanders has fallen again. At the end of June, the VDAB recorded 206,590 unemployed job seekers, 1 percent fewer than a year earlier. This marks the first decline in the number of job seekers since October 2022. However, the jobseeker rate remained unchanged at 6.4 percent in June.
A Turnaround After Years of Growth
As of June 30, 2026, 206,590 unemployed job seekers (WZW) residing in Flanders were registered with the VDAB. This suggests that the labor market is once again showing signs of a cautious turnaround after a long period in which the number of job seekers increased month after month.
Although the 1 percent decline is modest, it is symbolically significant. Since October 2022, the number of job seekers had consistently been higher than it was a year earlier.
Two Large Groups of Job Seekers
Today, job seekers in Flanders consist almost entirely of two groups of roughly equal size:
48 percent have applied for unemployment benefits.
48 percent consists of formerly economically inactive job seekers.
That second group grew by 13 percent over the past year. According to the VDAB, this is partly an administrative effect of the reform of unemployment benefits.
Since the introduction of the time limit on unemployment benefits, the VDAB no longer automatically removes people who lose their benefits from the job seeker registry. They remain registered as long as they are actively looking for work and are only removed from the registry when they find a job or no longer identify as job seekers.
Fewer job seekers eligible for benefits
At the same time, the number of job seekers receiving benefits fell by 8 percent compared to June of last year. According to the VDAB, there are several explanations for this. Some of these individuals moved into the group of formerly economically inactive job seekers after their unemployment benefits expired. In addition, more job seekers are leaving this group because they are returning to work or becoming chronically ill.
A Cautiously Positive Sign
The figures indicate that the Flemish labor market remains resilient, despite ongoing economic uncertainty. The first decline in the number of job seekers in more than three years is a positive sign, although the job-seeker rate remains unchanged at 6.4 percent.
The coming months will have to show whether this decline marks the beginning of a sustainable trend or is primarily the result of administrative shifts within the various categories of job seekers.
