Minister calls for compulsory Dutch training to tackle bottleneck occupations
The number of shortage occupations in Flanders has risen again, with 251 occupations now on the list - 10 more than last year. They range from technicians and nurses to construction workers.
Flemish minister for Employment Zuhal Demir of N-VA attributes part of the problem to insufficient Dutch language skills among job seekers and is pushing for compulsory training.
Shortage occupations - jobs with a structural shortage of workers - are officially recognised by the government and listed every two years in a ministerial decree. Despite recent layoffs and restructuring, filling certain positions remains a challenge.
"These jobs often require special skills or involve demanding conditions such as heavy work or night shifts," says Lies Reynaert of VDAB, the Flemish employment agency.
Newly added shortage occupations include police security officers, asphalt workers and warehouse staff. Industrial sectors, especially technical roles, continue to struggle with recruitment, while shortages remain in areas such as nursing and accounting.
The VDAB has released an updated list of 251 shortage occupations, 10 more than last year. Sixteen new roles have been added, while six have been removed. The new additions are:
Safety coordinator Operator of concreting and asphalting machinery Employment consultant Public safety officer Multi-skilled hotel worker Housekeeper Dishwasher Sports and leisure goods salesperson Vehicle salesperson Production supervisor for electrical and electronic materials Assembly operator for clothing and textile products Electrode welder Bicycle repairer Audiologist/hearing aid specialist International freight handler Warehouse operative |
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Emphasis on language skills
Many jobseekers lack sufficient knowledge of the Dutch language, which limits their employment opportunities. "Ninety per cent of employers who advertise vacancies with VDAB consider Dutch to be essential," the agency reports.
Demir advocates mandatory language training, saying: "VDAB offers 15 Dutch courses - there is no excuse not to take them." She also plans to streamline technical training by reducing duplication between VDAB, training agency Syntra and adult education providers to better match labour market needs.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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