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I’ve spent the last decade working with labor market data across Europe, and I keep hearing this one stat: “6 out of 10 unemployed people in Belgium are immigrants.” It pops up in political debates, on social media, and even in some news articles. But is it actually true? I decided to pull the latest official numbers from Statbel and Eurostat to get a clear picture. Let me walk you through what I found — it’s more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

Where This “6 out of 10” Number Comes From

The claim likely originates from a specific report or political statement. I traced it back to a 2023 study by the Belgian Federal Planning Bureau that examined the composition of the unemployed population in Brussels-Capital Region. In Brussels, about 60% of jobseekers have a foreign background (either born abroad or with foreign nationality). But that’s only Brussels, not the whole country. The number gets misquoted as “Belgium” when it’s actually region-specific. Also, “foreign background” is broader than “immigrant” — it includes people born in Belgium but with non-Belgian parents.

Another source could be the Unemployment Insurance Agency (ONEM) data showing that in certain municipalities with high immigrant populations, the share of unemployed immigrants is high. But again, that’s a local phenomenon, not national.

What Official Statistics Say

Let’s look at the latest available data (2023–2024) from Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. The unemployment rate for the total working-age population (15–64) is around 5.6% (2023 average). For people born outside the EU (first-generation immigrants), the unemployment rate is 13.2%. For Belgian-born individuals, it’s about 4.8%. That’s a big gap, but it doesn’t directly tell us the proportion of unemployed who are immigrants.

To get the proportion, we need to know the share of immigrants in the total labor force and in unemployment. According to Eurostat (Labor Force Survey), in 2023, about 19% of the Belgian labor force were foreign-born (both EU and non-EU). Now, immigrant unemployment numbers (about 13.2% of that 19%) vs. native unemployment numbers (4.8% of the remaining 81%) means the absolute number of unemployed immigrants is significantly higher than their labor force share. Let’s do the math:

Assume a labor force of 10,000: 1,900 immigrants, 8,100 natives. Unemployed immigrants: 1,900 * 13.2% = 250.8; unemployed natives: 8,100 * 4.8% = 388.8. Total unemployed = 639.6. Immigrant share of unemployed = 250.8 / 639.6 ≈ 39%. That’s way below 60%.

But if we restrict to non-EU immigrants, the unemployment rate jumps to 20%+, and then the share climbs to around 45–50% depending on the exact breakdown. Still not 60% nationally.

Regional Breakdown: Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels

Region Unemployment Rate (Total) Unemployment Rate (Non-EU Born) Immigrant Share of Unemployed
Flanders 3.8% 11.5% ~30%
Wallonia 7.2% 19.0% ~35%
Brussels-Capital 13.4% 22.1% ~60%

The table shows clearly: only in Brussels does the immigrant share of the unemployed approach 6 out of 10. That’s because Brussels has a very high concentration of non-EU immigrants (many from Morocco, Turkey, Sub-Saharan Africa). So the national claim is a geographical overgeneralization.

Who Counts as “Immigrant”? The Definition Problem

This is where the stat gets slippery. Different sources define “immigrant” differently:
  • Nationality: Foreign vs. Belgian nationality. But many foreign-born have naturalized and are Belgian citizens.
  • Country of birth: Born abroad vs. born in Belgium. This includes people who moved as children or adults.
  • Origin / migration background: Parents’ birthplace. The second generation (born in Belgium to immigrant parents) often faces similar labor market disadvantages but is not “immigrant” in the literal sense.

If you include second-generation (people of foreign origin but born in Belgium), the share of “people with a migration background” among the unemployed in Brussels can exceed 70%, boosting the national figure. But that’s a different group. The claim “6 out of 10 unemployed are immigrants” usually refers to first-generation immigrants, but it’s often used interchangeably.

Why Unemployment Rates Differ for Migrants

I’ve dug into dozens of studies and interviewed local employment agencies. Here are the real reasons, not the usual talking points:

1. Credential Recognition

Even highly skilled immigrants from North Africa often find their degrees not recognized in Belgium. A doctor might end up driving a taxi. I met an engineer from Syria who spent 3 years getting his diploma validated — while living on welfare. That drags up the unemployment statistics.

2. Language Barriers

In Flanders, Dutch is required for most jobs. Many new immigrants from non-European countries don’t speak it. Even in Brussels, bilingualism (French/Dutch) is often needed. Language courses exist but waiting lists are long — sometimes 12+ months.

3. Discrimination in Hiring

A field experiment by UGent (2022) sent identical CVs with Belgian vs. Moroccan names. The Moroccan name got 40% fewer callbacks. That’s not a myth — it’s documented. So even when qualified, immigrants face barriers.

4. Concentration in Vulnerable Sectors

Immigrants are overrepresented in hospitality, cleaning, and construction — sectors prone to seasonal unemployment and instability.

Policy Implications and Common Misconceptions

Politicians often use the “6 out of 10” stat to argue that immigration is a drain on the welfare system. But look closer: the regions with highest immigrant unemployment (Brussels, Wallonia) also have weaker economies overall. Correlation ≠ causation. When I visited a job center in Schaerbeek (Brussels), the staff told me the biggest bottleneck is not a lack of jobs but a mismatch between available jobs (often in Flanders, requiring Dutch) and the immigrant population (mostly French-speaking).

Another misconception: that immigrants don’t want to work. Actually, the OECD reports that immigrant labor force participation in Belgium is only slightly lower than natives (68% vs 72%), but their unemployment is much higher because they are more likely to be in precarious work and get laid off first.

FAQ: Quick Answers

Is 6 out of 10 unemployed in Belgium immigrants a true national statistic?
No, it’s only true for Brussels-Capital Region. Nationally, the share is about 39% for first-generation immigrants, or up to 45% if you include non-EU only. The stat gets misquoted and overgeneralized.
Which immigrant group has the highest unemployment in Belgium?
Non-EU immigrants, especially from North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, face unemployment rates above 20%. The highest are among recent refugees (Syrians, Afghans) with rates above 35% in the first 5 years.
How does Belgium’s immigrant unemployment compare to other EU countries?
It’s average. Sweden and Finland have higher immigrant unemployment rates; Germany and Netherlands are slightly lower. But the gap between native and immigrant unemployment in Belgium is among the widest in Western Europe, indicating integration challenges.
Does the “6 out of 10” claim include second-generation immigrants?
Usually not, but some reports lump them together. If you include second-generation (people of foreign origin born in Belgium), the share in Brussels exceeds 70%. The claim often conflates “immigrant” with “person with migration background,” which inflates the number.
What policies could reduce immigrant unemployment in Belgium?
Based on what I’ve seen working with VDAB (Flemish employment service), short-term solutions include: fast-track credential recognition, subsidized language training tied to job placement, and anti-discrimination audits for large employers. Long-term, improving education in immigrant neighborhoods is key.

This article has been fact-checked using data from Statbel, Eurostat, and the OECD. Stats are from 2023–2024 unless otherwise noted.