Claimant Job Seekers Decrease by 23%

VDAB figures for October 2026 show a significant drop in job seekers with an unemployment benefit claim in Flanders.

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Generic image of a graph showing a downward trend, with abstract figures and currency symbols in the background.

As of October 31, 2026, there were 214,804 unemployed job seekers (WZW) registered with VDAB in Flanders, a 4% decrease compared to last year. The unemployment rate stood at 6.6%.

The number of job seekers with an unemployment benefit claim has fallen sharply due to the time limitation of unemployment benefits. Between October 2025 and October 2026, this number decreased by 23%, leaving 89,183 job seekers with a benefit claim at the end of October 2026.
Over the same period, the number of formerly inactive job seekers increased by 23%. This group also includes individuals who recently received an unemployment benefit.
The end date of the unemployment benefit, including the specific month and quarter, can now be consulted in Arvastat. These end dates are snapshots and may change due to factors such as employment or maternity leave.
Based on information from the official source: VDAB — Nieuws voor de pers (05/11/2026)