Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium

Belgium: Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 9.56 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
9.56
Change on year
up 17.4%
World rank
62nd
of 89 countries
All-time high
37.37
in 2001
All-time low
7.16
in 2022
Years of data
26
1998–2024

Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium, 1998–2024

102030401998201120241998: 16.81999: 24.92000: 20.22001: 37.42002: 22.72003: 23.42004: 222005: 13.92006: 11.82007: 12.32008: 9.92009: 9.72010: 8.72012: 9.92013: 25.52014: 24.12015: 22.22016: 19.92017: 16.52018: 13.62019: 15.82020: 19.72021: 11.32022: 7.22023: 8.12024: 9.6

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Belgium recorded 9.56 for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in 2024.

The figure is up 17.4% on the previous year and down 60.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium peaked at 37.37 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 7.16, in 2022.

That places Belgium 62nd out of 89 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Belgium, 1998 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1998 16.76
1999 24.88 +48.4%
2000 20.18 -18.9%
2001 37.37 +85.2%
2002 22.65 -39.4%
2003 23.43 +3.4%
2004 22.04 -5.9%
2005 13.92 -36.8%
2006 11.85 -14.9%
2007 12.32 +4.0%
2008 9.91 -19.5%
2009 9.74 -1.8%
2010 8.71 -10.6%
2012 9.88 +13.6%
2013 25.53 +158.2%
2014 24.11 -5.5%
2015 22.21 -7.9%
2016 19.9 -10.4%
2017 16.48 -17.2%
2018 13.63 -17.3%
2019 15.82 +16.1%
2020 19.71 +24.5%
2021 11.3 -42.6%
2022 7.16 -36.7%
2023 8.14 +13.7%
2024 9.56 +17.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 20.82 16.76 24.88 2
2000s 18.34 9.74 37.37 10
2010s 17.36 8.71 25.53 9
2020s 11.17 7.16 19.71 5

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 59 Uruguay 12.52 compare
  2. 60 Estonia 10.91 compare
  3. 61 Peru 9.64 compare
  4. 63 Croatia 9.44 compare
  5. 64 Mongolia 9.23 compare
  6. 65 Norway 8.89 compare

See the full ranking of 89 places →

More work & labour data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium?
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Belgium was 9.56 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 37.37 in 2001.
What is the lowest discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 7.16 in 2022.
How does Belgium rank for discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
Belgium ranks 62nd out of 89 countries with data for 2024.
Is discouraged jobseekers (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 60.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Belgium. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/discouraged-jobseekers-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Discouraged jobseekers (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
89 places, 1,551 data points, 1987–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Discouraged job-seekers refer to those persons of working age who during a specified reference period were without work and available for work, but did not look for work in the recent past for specific reasons (for example, believing that there were no jobs available, believing there were none for which they would qualify, or having given up hope of finding employment). Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.