One in three young people in Belgium work part-time

Thirty percent of the employees under 30 in the private sector in Belgium work part-time, more than half the number in 2008. Finding full-time work is a problem for young people, conclude De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad, based on figures released from payroll and HR company SD Worx.

The figures show that, among 20-somethings, one employee in three work part-time in the private sector, and not necessarily by choice. The Federal Public Service Economy’s annual survey of the Belgian labour market shows that half of the young people in the country are not able to find full-time work, or that the jobs available to them only offer part-time contracts.

SD Worx claims that the current economic environment is the cause for the increase. “In times of crisis, everyone thinks twice before offering a full-time contract,” said spokesman Dirk Van Bastelaere.