Thinking of finding work in Belgium, a country that is home to the international headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? Trading Economics reports that Belgium has an average unemployment rate of 8.43 per cent, which is lower than the European Union’s 10.5 per cent average. This means the Belgian job market can be welcoming, especially if you’re a highly skilled professional.
To make your job search easier, here is an article that provides a lowdown on some of the top employers in Belgium.
1. Anheuser-Busch InBev
When you land in Belgium and order an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink, chances are high you will be served a drink manufactured by Anheuser-Busch InBev. That is how dominant the Leuven-based manufacturer is. With a market value of $204.6 billion and a massive workforce of 154,029, the company ranks as the top employer in Belgium.
2. Delhaize Group
With an employee population of 152,008, Delhaize Group should be your top target if you want to work in the retail industry. Headquartered in Brussels, the company operates several hypermarkets, convenience stores and food supermarkets in Belgium, parts of Asia, US and south-eastern Europe. Delhaize Group has a market value of $9.7 billion.
3. KBC Group
KBC Group is a financial services company that operates banks in Belgium and other EU nations. Overseeing merchant and retail banking operations from its corporate headquarters in Brussels, the company has so far employed 36,258 workers, many of whom are bankers. KBC Group has a market value of $37 billion.
4. Dexia
Brussels-based Dexia provides banking, insurance, investment management and other financial services to individuals and organizations. Driving its operations is a workforce of 35,500 spirited employees. Dexia has a market value of $2.4 billion.
5. Solvay
If you want to work in the chemical manufacturing industry, then Solvay may the best employer for you. Headquartered in Brussels, Solvay manufactures and distributes performance chemicals, functional polymers, advanced formulations and other chemical-based products. It is mainly due to the company’s 29,207 employees that it has managed to reach a market value of $12.6 billion.
6. Colruyt Group
With a market value of $7.2 billion and an employee population of 27,049, Colruyt is an attractive employer for professionals who aspire to work in the food retail industry. The Halle-based company distributes and sells a wide range of food and non-food products across Belgium.
7. Belgacom
Not to miss out, the Belgian telecommunications industry is represented in this list by Belgacom. Operating form Brussels, the telecom offers Internet, television and voice products to its residential and commercial clients. Belgacom has a market value of $12.2 billion and a workforce of 14,187 employees.
8. Umicore
Headquartered in Brussels, Umicore operates in the smelting and mining industry, where it recycles and refines precious metals, and manufactures a range of metal-based products. The company has 10,279 employees and a market value of $4.6 billion.
9. UCB Pharma
UCB Pharma is Belgium’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturer. Based in Brussels, the company researches, develops and manufactures medicines for treating disorders of the immune and central nervous systems. UCB has a workforce of 8,684 employees and a market value of $14.5 billion.
10. Banque nationale de Belgique
With a staff of 2,319 people and market value of $2.17 billion, the National Bank of Belgium, or Banque Nationale de Belgique, brings this top-tenner to a close. The bank, which also serves as the country’s central bank, develops and implements monetary policies, issues loans to other banks and circulates banknotes.
As you ready that CV and prepare to try out your luck in any of these companies, remember there are also other large organizations such as AG Real Estate, Telenet and Brussels Airlines that offer good employment opportunities.
If you have any questions about the Belgian labor market, feel free to ask in the comments section below.