Forecasting system(s)

Belgium 

Cedefop (the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) produces forecasts for Belgium as a whole. The 2025 report aims to project the future evolution of employment, the workforce, qualifications, and skill needs in Belgium up to 2035, in order to anticipate changes in the labour market.

Wallonia

Le Forem, Wallonia’s public employment and training service, plays a key role in identifying the lists of ‘critical functions / shortage occupations’. The unit in charge of this mission is the Labour and Training Market Analysis Service, which operates independently from other departments to ensure objectivity. This service conducts forward-looking studies on labour market developments. 

The service also cooperates with the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Foresight and Statistics (IWEPS) by sharing primary data and developing a cooperation programme. This programme aims to strengthen joint actions and foster meaningful collaboration with other specialised organisations.

As every year, in July, Forem publishes the new list of critical functions and shortage occupations in Wallonia. The 2025 list includes 146 ‘critical functions’, 82 of which are experiencing labour shortage. These shortage lists are used to guide training provision: Forem offers tailored courses based on the ‘high-pressure’ or shortage occupations. This list is based on various sources both quantitative ( statistics on the number of job offers and people registered with Forem) and qualitative (surveys), conducted with experts. 

Forem implements very concrete training measures (199 training programmes plus tailor-made training) to develop the skills that are lacking.
There is strong alignment between the anticipated demand (shortage occupations) and the training offer.

It is important to note that Le Forem does not capture all the needs of the labor market. Therefore, gathering input from sectoral and/or occupational experts usefully complements the statistical analysis of job offers disseminated by Le Forem.

According to the latest results of the Job Vacancy Survey (JVS) conducted by Statbel, nearly six out of ten companies use Le Forem to advertise their job openings. The main channels preferred by Walloon companies to publicize their recruitment needs are social media (79%) and the company’s own website (73%). Le Forem thus ranks third among the most popular recruitment channels for Walloon businesses.

Region Brussels-Capital

For Brussels, the body in charge of skills forecasting is the Brussels Observatory for Employment (Observatoire Bruxellois de l’Emploi). Its mission is to follow the employment evolutions and unemployment in the Region Brussels-Capital.  The Observatory analyses topics related to changes and transformations specific to labour market.

One of its main objectives is to develop tools to identify the expected future skill or qualification requirements. It publishes the information on the Actiris website.   

The Observatory was created in 1995 and is co-funded by the European Social Fund. 

Skills development

Wallonia

According to "Recruitment Challenges and Opportunities - List 2025", after mapping labor market tensions in Wallonia, Le Forem uses this list to proactively inform job seekers, through its advisors and partner network. To effectively meet the skills expected by companies, Le Forem offers 199 training programs, including:

• A modular approach, focusing on core skills for rapid integration into the workforce, as well as advanced modules and even cutting-edge skills to update or enhance one’s skill profile in line with evolving professions
• Tailor-made training programs, such as the “Coups de poing pénurie” (short, intensive courses targeting labor shortages)
• Off-site training, delivered directly at companies or other locations, to be as close as possible to both employers and job seekers.

The Employment National Office (ONEM) grants “specific permission” to unemployed persons who undertake studies or training preparing for a job listed on the occupation shortage list. This measure allows job seekers to keep their right to receive unemployment compensation while being permitted to not respect some of their obligations (allowed to refuse a job offer, not being available for work, not being registered as job seeker).