Belgium added 39,200 full-time government jobs between the end of 2019 and the end of 2024, according to figures obtained by Het Laatste Nieuws from the National Social Security Office and other government departments. The country now counts almost one million full-time civil servants., reports 24brussels.
The public sector’s expansion represents a significant trend, particularly amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing energy crisis. Between 2014 and 2019, the number of full-time civil service jobs in Belgium had already increased by 25,500. In contrast, this latest growth rate has outpaced that of the private sector.
Largest growth in education
More than 65 percent of the job growth since 2014 is attributed to the education sector, with over 42,000 new positions generated in a decade, particularly in Flanders. In comparison, growth in other sectors such as policing and the military has been relatively modest.
The federal police have added approximately 1,000 full-time positions over the past ten years, while local police forces have seen an increase of about 1,500. Conversely, the military has experienced a reduction of over 3,000 full-time soldiers during the same period, although there are signs of a reversal in this trend since 2022.
At the provincial level, employment figures have decreased due to a realignment of responsibilities transferred to regional and local authorities.