Belgium: Flanders Expands Shortage Occupation List

Flanders has published a new list of shortage occupations which will enter into force on September 1, 2023, expanding the number of roles to 29 positions (currently, there are 22 roles on the list). Newly added roles will include (among others): bus and coach drivers, refrigeration technicians, drilling operators, sheet metal workers, bricklayers and floor tilers. The following roles have been removed from the list: chefs, data communication installers, and rigger-assemblers. Occupations on the list are exempt from labor market testing. Applications submitted before September 1, 2023 on the basis of the old list (which included the three removed occupations) will still benefit from the labour market testing exemption and employers will be able to extend the work authorisations of these foreign nationals. The expansion of the list – which is currently updated every two years – reflects growing labor shortages in key occupations across Europe. Looking ahead, there is draft legislation in Flanders that would change the frequency of the shortage occupation list updates. We will provide an update when information becomes available.