Student Work in Belgium Surges 58% as Financial Pressures Mount

The volume of student work in Belgium has surged by 58% between 2017 and 2024, dramatically outpacing the 7% growth in regular employment, according to a new study by the Federal Planning Bureau. The report, commissioned by Employment Minister David Clarinval, reveals a structural shift in Belgium’s labor market driven by rising financial pressures on students and government policies expanding work opportunities.

A Boom Unlike Any Other

While student work exploded by 58%, other forms of flexible employment, such as temporary agency work, declined over the same period. Only flexi-jobs grew faster, though they represent a smaller total volume. The wage mass for student work nearly doubled from €1.04 billion in 2017 to approximately €2.07 billion in 2024.

The findings come as the federal government — the De Wever administration’s “Arizona coalition” — has pursued significant labor market reforms. The government increased the authorized working hours per student from 600 to 650 hours per year, doubled the tax exemption on student work income, raised the net subsistence threshold to €12,000, and lowered the minimum age for student work to 15 without educational level conditions.

However, the Planning Bureau estimates the reform’s direct impact will be limited. The increase in the hourly quota is expected to affect fewer than 5% of student workers, while lowering the minimum age to 15 will likely increase the number of student workers by only about 1%. Doubling the tax exemption is not expected to have a significant effect.

Student Work as a Social Norm

A separate UCLouvain study published in May 2025 surveyed more than 2,500 students aged 18 to 29 and found that 63% had paid work in 2024, with 43% working more than 200 hours. Nearly a third of non-working students reported feeling shame about not having a job, highlighting how student work has become a deeply embedded social norm in Belgium.

Students primarily use their work income for travel (79%), leisure (73%), food and groceries (42%), study costs (37%), tuition fees (17%), and housing (16%).

Academic Concerns and Social Inequalities

The Planning Bureau warns that a scientific consensus exists that high-intensity student work can harm academic performance, both in terms of results and study duration. The UCLouvain study found that students exceeding 500 hours of work per year — approximately 12.5% of student workers — face greater academic difficulties, repeat years more frequently, and validate fewer credits.

Professor Bernard Fusulier, lead researcher of the UCLouvain study, highlighted that the trend risks widening social inequalities. Students from modest backgrounds are more likely to work and more likely to exceed 500 hours annually — 20% compared to fewer than 10% from wealthier families. “The increase in the authorized hourly ceiling could accentuate social inequalities,” the study warned.

The research also revealed persistent gender disparities. Female students work more hours on average (243.2 vs. 220.74 hours) but earn lower hourly wages (€13.15 vs. €13.50).

Political Reactions and Social Security Concerns

Vice-Premier Minister Jan Jambon has welcomed the trend, stating: “We are seeing exactly what we were aiming for: students have more opportunities, employers find labor more easily, and the economy also benefits.” Minister Clarinval similarly noted that the reform was designed “to offer more opportunities to students and guarantee certain security for parents.”

However, trade unions have raised alarms. The ACV (Christian trade union) estimated that the growth of student work and flexi-jobs could cost social security €1.5 billion in lost revenue by 2029 due to reduced social contributions. Data from the National Social Security Office (ONSS) showed student employment increased 5.6% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period the previous year, reaching 422,356 students.

What to Watch For

The 58% growth in student work signals a structural shift in Belgium’s labor market toward more flexible, lower-cost arrangements. With nearly two-thirds of students now working and concerns mounting about academic outcomes and social security funding, the government faces a growing policy dilemma. Key questions remain about which sectors are absorbing the most student workers, how Belgium’s trend compares to other European countries, and whether the government will adjust the social contribution structure for student work to address the funding gap.

As the Arizona coalition continues its labor market flexibilization agenda, the balance between providing opportunities for students and protecting educational outcomes and social security will remain a central tension in Belgian policy debates.