Staff Shortage Flanders 2025: 174,000 Open Vacancies

November 2025. VDAB publishes the latest labour market figures and the news lands like a bombshell: 174,000 open vacancies in Flanders. That is a 23 percent increase compared to last year.

For every 100 jobseekers there are now 112 open jobs. The traditional labour market is completely upside down. And while politicians talk about solutions, companies are already experimenting with something entirely different: flex work.

Sources: VDAB Labour Market Report Q3 2025, Statbel Belgium, Trends Business November 2025

The Figures: A Labour Market in Crisis

The figures do not lie. According to the most recent data from VDAB and Statbel, Flanders is facing its largest staff shortage in 15 years:

• 174,000 open vacancies (October 2025)
• Average time to fill a vacancy: 142 days (was 89 days in 2020)
• 68 percent of Flemish companies report staffing problems
• Estimated economic damage: 8.7 billion euro per year in lost revenue

But there is more going on. The nature of work is changing fundamentally. People no longer want full-time, nine-to-five jobs. They want flexibility. And companies that do not understand this are losing the battle for talent.

Which Sectors Are Hit Hardest?

According to VDAB data, these are the sectors with the most open vacancies:

1. Hospitality and Tourism: 42,000 open jobs

Waiters, cooks, bar staff, cleaning. The sector that has been hit hardest. On average a hospitality vacancy stays open for 187 days before someone is found.

2. Retail and Sales: 31,000 open jobs

Shop assistants, cashiers, warehouse staff. The explosion of online shopping has only increased the need for flexible staff.

3. Logistics and Transport: 28,000 open jobs

Drivers, warehouse workers, sorters. The e-commerce boom keeps growing and staff cannot keep up.

4. Care and Welfare: 26,000 open jobs

Nurses, care workers, home help. A sector that is shrinking due to burnout while demand keeps rising.

5. Production and Industry: 24,000 open jobs

Production workers, technicians, operators. Automation does not help enough to solve the shortage.

What all these sectors have in common: they run on peak moments. Weekends, public holidays, rush hours. Exactly the moments that permanent contracts are not flexible enough for.

Why Permanent Jobs No Longer Work

The traditional approach no longer works. Why not?

Problem 1: Ageing Population

According to Statbel, in 2025 more people are leaving the labour market than are joining it. The baby boom generation is retiring and there are too few young people to replace them.

Problem 2: Changing Expectations

A recent study by HR Mag shows that 64 percent of workers under 35 would rather work flexibly than have a permanent contract. They value work-life balance over security.

Problem 3: Mismatch

Companies are looking for full-time people. Workers want to work part-time or flexibly. A restaurant needs staff on Friday and Saturday, but no one wants a contract for the weekend only.

Problem 4: Wages Rise Too Slowly

Despite the shortage, wages only rise by 2 to 3 percent per year in Flanders, while inflation is higher. Many people choose to earn extra through flexi-jobs instead of working full-time.

The Flex Work Revolution: Figures and Facts

While companies struggle with vacancies, a revolution is quietly under way. Flex work is exploding in popularity:

• 450,000 students worked in 2024 under the student status (RSZ data)
• 180,000 people have an active flexi-job (a 340 percent increase since 2020)
• The use of flex platforms rose by 520 percent in hospitality and retail since 2022

Why does flex work succeed?

Advantage 1: A Perfect Match

Companies get staff exactly when they need them. Workers choose for themselves when they work. A student can work on Friday evening, a flexi-jobber on Saturday, a pensioner on Tuesday. Everyone wins.

Advantage 2: Speed

Through platforms such as AnyShift, companies find staff within 24 hours. No months of waiting for applications. No endless interviews. Fill a shift straight away.

Advantage 3: Lower Costs

Flex work means companies only pay for the hours they need. No fixed costs during quiet moments. More staff during busy moments.

Advantage 4: Diversity

Flex work attracts students, pensioners, parents, people with a permanent job who want to earn extra. A much wider talent pool than traditional recruitment.

What Does This Mean for 2025 and Beyond?

The labour market is in a permanent transition. According to labour market experts, by 2027 more than 35 percent of all jobs in hospitality, retail and logistics will be filled through flex work.

For Companies:

• Stop looking for the perfect full-time candidate who does not exist
• Build a hybrid model: a permanent core with a flexible layer
• Use technology to plan quickly and efficiently
• Pay market-rate wages (especially for flex work: 14 to 18 euro per hour)

For Workers:

• Flex work is worth no less than permanent work
• You have more control over your time and income
• Diversify: work for several companies via platforms
• Build your reputation: good shifters earn 20 to 30 percent more

The question is no longer whether flex work is the future. The question is: when will you adapt?

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