At the COC Culture and Meeting Centre in Ronse, 28 local employers will present their vacancies on Tuesday, October 6th. This regional job fair, an initiative by the local authorities of Ronse, Brakel, and Oudenaarde, Voka East Flanders, and VDAB, is the first in this collaborative effort. Between 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM, job seekers will have the opportunity to have initial conversations with participating companies and discover job opportunities close to home.
Employers from various sectors such as industry, healthcare, retail, construction, and local government itself are participating. The offered vacancies are diverse, including roles like CNC turner, crane operator, operator, childminder, file manager, and nurse.
Furthermore, individuals with questions about their career path or the educational offerings in the region are also welcome at the job fair. The VDAB cleaning mobile unit will be present at the entrance to inform participants about training opportunities within the cleaning sector.
Carine D’haeseleer, acting provincial director of VDAB East Flanders, emphasizes the fair's bridging role: “With this job fair, we, together with our partners, are bridging the gap between job seekers and employers in the region of Ronse, Brakel, and Oudenaarde. We are translating our collaboration with local authorities and Voka into concrete action, creating opportunities for those who wish to work closer to home.”
Mayor John Adam of Oudenaarde highlights the importance for local governments: “A regional job fair is of great value to local authorities. In our multi-year plan, the city of Oudenaarde is consciously working towards a higher employment rate, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. By directly connecting job seekers and employers from the region, we can make this ambition a concrete reality.”
Mayor Marleen Gyselinck of Brakel adds: “This job fair demonstrates the strength of regional cooperation. By joining forces with Ronse, Oudenaarde, VDAB, and Voka, we are creating an accessible meeting place where job seekers and employers can find each other. In this way, we collectively strengthen employment in our region.”
Alderman Gunther Deriemaker of Ronse (Local Economy and Social Policy) sees the fair as an opportunity for sustainable employment: “The regional job fair in Ronse brings together local talent and employers, creating concrete opportunities for sustainable employment. Every encounter can be the start of a new career, a successful hire, or a valuable collaboration. By pooling our regional strengths, we not only enhance the labor market but also the economic and social dynamics of our area.”
Elisabeth Minnaert, regional director of Flemish Ardennes at Voka East Flanders, notes that finding the right employees remains a significant challenge for many companies. “At the same time, many people are looking for a job that suits them, preferably close to home. This job fair directly connects these two needs. The wide variety of participating companies and vacancies also shows the many opportunities our region offers. By joining forces as local authorities, VDAB, and Voka, we aim to better connect local talent with local businesses.”
The job fair will take place at the COC Cultuur en Ontmoetingscentrum Ronse, Nieuwebrugstraat 4, 9600 Ronse on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026, from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The official opening ceremony will begin at 1:15 PM with speeches from Mayor Ignace Michaux of Ronse, Alderman Gunther Deriemaker of Ronse, and Provincial Manager Bart Bruneel of VDAB East Flanders. Members of the press are welcome upon prior notification via sofie.smagghe@vdab.be.
