Belgium Updates Its Shortage Occupation Lists in Wallonia and Flanders

Belgium has recently made a few updates to its shortage occupation lists in the regions of Wallonia and Flanders, changing which jobs are easier for foreign workers to apply for.

The shortage occupation lists decide which professions are in high demand and therefore exempt from labour market testing, meaning employers don’t need to prove they couldn’t find a local candidate before hiring someone from abroad.

Let’s break down what changed in Belgium’s Shortage Occupation.

What’s New in Wallonia?

Wallonia, a region in southern Belgium, introduced a new list on 1 October 2025. The number of recognised shortage jobs dropped to 56, down from 73.

A few new roles were added because companies are struggling to find workers for them. These include industrial installation electricians, industrial maintenance managers and mechanics who work on cars and light vehicles.

Some jobs that were previously on the list have now been removed. These include nurses, tower crane operators, drilling machine operators, ventilation system installers, structural and roof insulators and head chefs.

Shortage Occupation List for Wallonia

The new Wallonia list will stay in place until 30 September 2026. If someone applied before 1 October 2025 using the old list, their application will still be processed without labour market testing.

Newly Added Roles

1. Industrial installation electrician
2. Industrial maintenance manager
3. Mechanic for cars and light vehicles

Removed Roles

• Nurse
• Tower crane operator
• Drilling machine operator
• Ventilation system installer
• Structural and roof insulator
• Head chef

In short, Wallonia’s list now focuses more on industrial and technical trades rather than service or healthcare roles.

What’s New in Flanders?

Flanders will update its list of medium-skilled shortage occupations on 1 January 2026. The list will shrink from 29 jobs to 21. This updated list will stay active until 31 December 2027.

Just like in Wallonia, anyone who applied before the change will still be covered by the labour market testing exemption under the old list.

Shortage Occupation List for Flanders

Key occupations currently listed include:

• Care assistants and nursing aides (lower-level qualification)
• Technicians in electrical and mechanical engineering
• Construction workers and welders
• HVAC and plumbing technicians
• Industrial and truck mechanics
• Machine and CNC operators
• Bus, truck, and crane drivers
• Bakers, butchers, and chefs (some retained)
• Roofers, bricklayers, and concrete workers
• IT service technicians and industrial assemblers

Brussels Also Updated Its List Earlier

Just like Flanders and Wallonia, the Brussels region has also revised its own shortage occupation list in mid-2025, meaning all three Belgian regions now operate with newly reviewed lists to better match local labour demands.

What This Means for Workers

If you are planning to work in Belgium, these lists can make a real difference. Jobs that appear on the shortage occupation lists usually offer faster processing and fewer hurdles for your work permit. It’s always best to check the list for the specific region where you plan to work because Belgium’s regions manage their own rules.