Shortage occupations in Belgium,region by region

Consult the occupations directly by Brussels, Wallonia and Flanders. LEXPAT Connect regional database updated continuously.

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Brussels-Capital Region Wallonia Flanders

LEXPAT Connect reference

Full list of shortage occupations

A simple reading, region by region, without unnecessary detours.

Brussels-Capital Region

The Brussels list is published by Actiris. It is a useful operational reference point, even though it is not the only practical reading used in Brussels.

84 occupations

Retail, sales and large distribution

Technical Sales Advisor
Technical Advisor for Customer Support
Food Department Manager

Accounting, finance, insurance, legal and real estate

Financial Analyst
Chief Accountant
Accountant
Insurance Advisor
Chartered Accountant
Property Manager

Construction and public works

Building Technical Researcher
Site Manager
Formwork carpenter / steel fixer
Construction Site Supervisor
Tower crane operator
Mobile crane operator
Construction equipment operator
Pitched roof roofer
Flat roof roofer
Industrial electrician installer
Residential electrician installer

Construction

Communications network technician
Bricklayer
Exterior construction carpenter
Interior construction carpenter
Quantity Surveyor
Road construction worker
Building and Infrastructure Maintenance Manager
Heating system maintenance technician
Heating systems maintenance technician

Education and training

Educational coordinator
Educator in a school
Secondary school teacher
Nursery or primary school teacher
Adult trainer
Driving instructor

Hospitality

Hotel and restaurant management assistant

IT and telecommunications

ICT analyst-developer
ICT business analyst
IT Department Manager

Administrative roles

Executive Assistant
Human Resources Manager

Technical and industrial occupations

Electrical and electronic design draughtsperson
Mechanical design draughtsperson
Maintenance electrician
Safety, health and environment expert
Compliance inspector
Elevator installer
Maintenance mechanic
Quality control manager in industry
Industrial maintenance manager
Production Methods and Industrialisation Manager
Production Planning and Management Manager
Elevator maintenance technician
Industrial equipment maintenance technician
Industrial automation technician
Refrigeration and air-conditioning technician
Safety, health and environment technician

Healthcare and social care

Healthcare assistant
Paramedic
Social worker
Employment advisor
Social welfare advisor
Educator-accompanist
Occupational therapist
Nurse
Head nurse
Social nurse
Operating theatre nurse
Paediatric nurse
Speech therapist
Doctor
Instructor-facilitator in the social economy
Pharmacist
Childcare worker
Daycare manager
Medical laboratory technologist
Medical imaging technologist

Personal services, security, cleaning and recycling

Security guard
Public security officer

Transport and logistics

Purchaser
Bus driver
Truck driver with trailer
Multi-skip truck driver
Head of procurement

Wallonia

Wallonia publishes a direct and operational list, especially useful for field occupations, industry, healthcare and logistics.

56 occupations

Regional list

Property Manager
Quantity Surveyor
Construction Site Supervisor
Chef / Cheffe de chantier
Heavy steel structure assembler
Residential electrician installer
Industrial electrician installer
Sanitary installer (plumber)
Central heating installer
Exterior construction carpenter
Interior construction carpenter
Tiler
Pitched roof roofer
Formwork carpenter / steel fixer
Ouvrier / Ouvrière de voirie
Qualified bricklayer / mason
Water pipe layer
Chef de partie
Technical Sales Advisor
Production process and methods technician
Chemical plant operator
Textile manufacturing machine operator
Production team leader
Industrial sheet metal worker
CNC machine tool setter-operator
Conventional machine tool setter-operator
Metal structure assembler
TIG welder
Pipe fitter
Industrial maintenance manager
Technicien / Technicienne en automatisation industrielle
Industrial maintenance electromechanic
Industrial electronics maintenance technician
Refrigeration and air-conditioning technician
Communication networks and security systems technician
Heating systems maintenance technician
Maintenance electrician
Maintenance mechanic
Construction, agricultural and lifting equipment maintenance mechanic
Heavy truck and commercial vehicle mechanic (+3.5T)
Car and light vehicle mechanic (-3.5T)
Automotive technician
Bodywork sheet metal worker
Bodywork preparer
Bodywork painter
Healthcare assistant
Social worker
Moniteur / Monitrice d’auto-école
Accountant
Inland waterways sailor (deckhand)
Heavy truck driver - Category C license
Heavy truck driver - Category CE license (skip loader / multi-skip)
Heavy truck driver - Category CE license
Conducteur / Conductrice d’autobus
Coach driver
Teacher (within the shortage occupation list for teaching established by the French Community)

Flanders

Flanders presents shortage occupations through functional families. It is particularly useful for technical, industrial and care profiles.

228 occupations

✦ Full labour market test exemption— Ministerial Decree 1 Dec. 2025 · 21 occupations● 9-week labour market test required (VDAB + EURES)

Agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fishing

Agricultural worker
Horticulture worker
Garden and green space worker
Garden and green space supervisor

Construction — shell and finishing works

Formwork setter and concrete worker✦ Full exemption
Roof carpenter
Roofer✦ Full exemption
Shell construction worker
Bricklayer / Mason✦ Full exemption
Timber frame carpenter
Screed floor layer
Glazier
Interior builder
Natural stone worker
Interior joinery installer
Exterior joinery installer
Painter-decorator
Plasterer
Floor and tile layer

Construction — maintenance, installations and infrastructure

Asbestos remover✦ Full exemption
Burner technician
Façade renovator / concrete restorer
Building installation technician
Security systems technician
Data communication and network technician✦ Full exemption
Electrotechnical installer
Energy management systems installer
Installation technician (HVAC / plumbing)✦ Full exemption
Above and underground pipe installer
Renewable energy technician
Sewer pipe layer
Road construction worker
Water, sewage and heating network connector
Utilities installer
Scaffolder
Earthmoving machine operator✦ Full exemption
Horizontal drilling machine operator
Vertical drilling machine operator
Concrete and asphalt machine operator
Crane operator✦ Full exemption
Tower crane operator

Industrial professions — supervisors and technicians

Production department supervisor
Production manager
Engineering project manager
Production team leader
Industrial maintenance supervisor
Quality control supervisor
R&D supervisor
Production process and methods expert
Production planner
Work preparation engineer✦ Full exemption
Industrial laboratory technician
Industrial electromechanic✦ Full exemption
Lift technician
Industrial automation designer✦ Full exemption
Electrical and electronics technician✦ Full exemption
Electronic installations technician✦ Full exemption
Refrigeration technician✦ Full exemption
Climate control technician
Industrial maintenance technician✦ Full exemption
Industrial automation maintenance technician✦ Full exemption
Electrical and electronic design draughtsperson
Mechanical design draughtsperson

Industrial professions — production, food and textiles

Food industry process operator
Food industry production operator
Bread and pastry baker
Chocolatier and ice cream maker
Slaughterer
Butcher
Meat cutter / deboner
Textile production line operator
Textile machine operator
Textile production line worker
Polyvalent sewing machine operator
Print operator
Print finishing operator
CNC woodworking machine operator
Wood production operator
Cabinet maker / furniture maker
Workshop carpenter / joiner

Industrial professions — metal, chemicals and other

Foundry operator
Assembly operator
Manual welder
Die / mould maker
Sheet metal machine setter-operator✦ Full exemption
Machining setter-operator (turning / milling)✦ Full exemption
Machine builder
Steel structure assembler
Pipe fitter✦ Full exemption
Rigger and assembler
Panel builder / electrical machine assembler
Electrotechnician✦ Full exemption
Industrial electrician
Pharma and biotech operator
Chemical industry process operator✦ Full exemption
Energy and petrochemical industry process operator
Plastics production operator and machine regulator
Plastics processing worker
Paper or cardboard machine operator
Packaging operator
Industrial painter
Works at height specialist
Diamond cutter / processor✦ Full exemption

Industrial professions — vehicles and machinery

OBD technician — passenger cars and light vehicles✦ Full exemption
OBD technician — heavy commercial vehicles
Moped and motorcycle technician
Garden, park and forestry machinery technician
Construction, agricultural and lifting machinery technician✦ Full exemption
Aircraft technician
Marine engineer
Bicycle mechanic
Maintenance mechanic — passenger cars and light vehicles
Maintenance mechanic — heavy commercial vehicles✦ Full exemption
Bodywork assembly / disassembly technician
Bodywork panel beater✦ Full exemption
Bodywork painter / sprayer
Bodywork preparer✦ Full exemption

Transport and logistics professions

Freight dispatcher
Customs declarant
Freight forwarder
Logistics supervisor
Forklift driver
Warehouse worker
Reach truck driver
Removal worker
Bus driver
Coach driver
Taxi and private transport driver
Truck driver
Train driver
Railway worker
Inland waterways sailor✦ Full exemption

Commercial and sales professions

Optician
Shop sales assistant
Technical customer support advisor
Shop assistant
Assistant store manager
Store manager
B2B sales representative

Hospitality and catering professions

Hotel receptionist
Hotel room attendant
Polyvalent hotel employee
Chef de partie
Large-scale kitchen chef
Commis chef
Large-scale kitchen assistant chef
Kitchen worker
Cook / Chef
Fast food worker
Bartender
Assistant waiter
Waiter
Maître d’hôtel
Hospitality manager

Leisure and artistic professions

Polyvalent stage technician
Senior lifeguard

Organisational support and knowledge professions

Sales engineer
Inside sales representative
Contact centre agent
Payroll advisor
Accountant
ICT manager
Management assistant
Technical-administrative employee
Data manager
Data scientist
ICT architect
ICT security specialist
ICT integration expert
Software analyst
Network administrator
System administrator
Data engineer
Software developer
Software tester
ICT support technician

Service professions

Employment agency consultant / job coach
Social worker
Hairdresser
Beauty specialist
Textile care worker
Funeral assistant
Investment advisor
Credit advisor
Insurance advisor
Insurance administrator
Property manager / syndic assistant
Security guard
Police officer
Soldier / sailor in defence
Domestic and cleaning helper
Window cleaner
Industrial cleaner

Medical, paramedical and care professions

Medical doctor
Veterinarian
Hospital pharmacist
Physiotherapist
Audiologist and hearing aid specialist
Ergotherapeut
Optometrist
Orthopaedic technologist
Medical imaging technologist
Head nurse
Nurse
Personal assistant (care)
Home carer✦ Full exemption
Nursing aide✦ Full exemption
Dental technician
Paramedic / ambulance worker

Educational and pedagogical professions

Special secondary education teacher
Nursery school teacher
Primary school teacher
Secondary school teacher
School director
Driving instructor
Kinderbegeleider baby’s en peuters
Childcare worker (school-age children)
Instructor-coach in the social economy
Educational support worker
Childcare supervisor

Passerelle LEXPAT

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