Projects

The challenge

Flanders has a particularly tight labour market, with an unemployment rate of only 3.6% and an employment rate of 75.3% in 2021. This compares with higher unemployment rates in the Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region. Despite these differences, the number of Walloons and Brussels residents employed in Flanders remains very low. Therefore, this study conceptualises interregional employment zones; zones where there is still potential to expand labour mobility to Flanders. This was done on the basis of an analysis of current commuting flows between the different regions on the one hand and an analysis of the demand and supply side of the labour market on the other.

The process & results

This study examines interregional employment zones, namely zones where there is still potential to expand interregional mobility. To compare labour demand and supply, both vacancies on the Flemish side and jobseekers on the Brussels and Walloon sides were surveyed. For this purpose, vacancy data were provided by VDAB, and data on jobseekers were obtained from Actiris and Forem.

In addition, this study also analysed more qualitatively the thresholds on both sides. Thus, we conducted exploratory helicopter interviews with representatives of relevant agencies: mediation services, the Department of WSE, FPS Waso, workers’ organisations and employers’ federations. We also conducted a survey among Walloon and Brussels jobseekers to identify their needs and thresholds related to working in Flanders. Moreover, for labour demand in Flanders, several interviews were conducted with Flemish employers to also understand their needs and incentives when hiring Walloons or Brussels natives.

Moreover, existing commuter flows were also mapped between Flanders and the other regions. For the interregional commuting flows, the Dynam-Reg dataset developed by HIVA and NSSO was used, which is based on the entire population of wage earners and includes the place of residence and employment at the municipal level.

Based on the commuting flows, interviews and analysis of vacancies and job seekers, three interregional employment zones were selected as a result: Brussels – Halle-Vilvoorde, Tournai-Mouscron – Ypres, Roeselare & Kortrijk and Liège – Hasselt & Tongeren. These zones already had some level of interregional employment, and identified potential to enhance interregional labour mobility. Finally, we identified policy recommendations to promote interregional labour mobility, such as supporting employers with their various barriers and intensified cooperation between VDAB, Actiris and Forem.