EconomyPolitics
Belgium's Flexi-Jobs Under Fire Over Job Displacement Study
Belgian ministers clash over flexi-jobs as new study shows they may displace regular jobs in hospitality, raising fiscal sustainability questions.
—5 min read
Tag
#Labor Market
32 articles
EconomyPolitics
Belgium's Flexi-Job System 'Spiraling Out of Control'
Belgian Budget Minister Van Peteghem warns flexi-jobs are undermining social security as record numbers and an IMF debt warning fuel reform debate.
—4 min read
Social PolicyPolitics
Belgium's Unemployment Reform: Older Workers Bear the Brunt
Belgium's unemployment reform disproportionately hits older workers in the 4th exclusion wave. Experts don't fully understand why, sparking debate.
—5 min read
SocietyEconomy
China Adds 12 New Occupations in Digital and Green Sectors
China's MOHRSS proposes 12 new occupations spanning AI, green energy, digital twins, and traditional crafts, reflecting labor market evolution.
—4 min read
EconomyEducation
No Degree, €5,921/Month: How One Extra Study Year Paid Off
A Belgian solar panel installer earns €5,921/month without a higher education diploma. One extra year of technical study proved a golden investment.
—4 min read
EconomyUnited States
US Adds Just 57,000 Jobs in June as Hiring Slows Sharply
The US economy added 57,000 jobs in June, well below expectations, as the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.2% and wage growth trailed inflation.
—5 min read
TechnologyEconomy
AI Is Reshaping the Economy. Measuring It Is Another Story.
Economists struggle to measure AI's economic impact as massive investment coexists with near-zero measured productivity gains, echoing the Solow Paradox.
—5 min read
Economy
Belgian Salaried Employment Stagnates as Flexi-Jobs Surge
Economist Philippe Defeyt reports salaried employment in Belgium grew just 0.7% over three years, with flexi-jobs masking a deeper decline in regular jobs.
—4 min read
EducationEconomy
China Guides 12.7 Million Graduates Through Job Market Shift
As 12.7 million Chinese graduates enter the workforce, Beijing rolls out policies to address structural skills mismatches in an AI-driven economy.
—4 min read
TechnologyEconomy
AI Freezes Entry-Level Hiring More Than It Cuts Jobs
Peking University research shows AI is freezing entry-level hiring more than cutting jobs, proposing an AI Employment Compensation Fund for workers.
—5 min read
Domestic Policy & Economy
China Unveils 15th Five-Year Employment Priority Plan
China's State Council issues the 15th Five-Year Employment Plan (2026-2030), targeting unemployment below 5.5% and 35% skilled workers.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
Belgium Expands Flexi-Job System to All Sectors from July 1
Belgium's flexi-job system expands to all sectors July 1. Workers earn up to €18,440 tax-free. Critics warn of social costs and job displacement.
—5 min read
EconomyBelgium
Student Work Surges in Belgium: 650,000 Now Hold Jobs
New ONSS data reveals nearly 650,000 Belgian student workers, a 25% increase in a decade. Critics warn reform is displacing regular jobs.
—6 min read
EconomySocial Policy
China Unveils Five-Year Plan to Tackle Youth Job Crisis
China's State Council issues a sweeping employment strategy for 2026-2030, targeting youth unemployment, AI disruption, and structural labor mismatches.
—5 min read
EconomyEmployment
Teens Face Tough Summer Job Search as Jobless Rate at 14.7%
Teen unemployment hit 14.7% in May 2026 as inflation and competition from older workers create one of the toughest summer job markets in decades.
—4 min read
Social & LaborPolitics
Flemish Government Mandates Anti-Bias Tests in All Sectors
The Flemish government will require practical anti-discrimination tests across all labor sectors starting December 2026, bypassing employer opposition.
—4 min read
EconomyEducation
Student Work in Belgium Surges 58% Between 2017 and 2024
Student work in Belgium surged 58% from 2017-2024, outpacing regular employment. A Planning Bureau study examines financial pressures and academic impacts.
—4 min read
EducationEconomy
China Launches '100-Day Sprint' for Record 12.7M Graduates
China's Education Ministry launches a '100-Day Sprint' to boost employment for 12.7 million graduates, with 5M+ job postings and anti-fraud measures.
—4 min read
Society
Foreign Name Bias Worse in Jobs Than Housing, Study Finds
A Belgian meta-analysis of 463 studies finds job applicants with foreign-sounding names face 29% fewer positive responses than local peers.
—4 min read
EconomyPolitics
US Adds 172,000 Jobs in May as Labor Market Rebounds
The US added 172,000 jobs in May, far exceeding expectations. But strong hiring complicates the Fed's inflation fight as new Chair Kevin Warsh prepares.
—4 min read
EconomyEurope
Record Quarter Million Belgians Now Working as Flexi-Jobbers
A record 261,868 Belgians worked as flexi-jobbers in 2025, up 14% from 2024. The tax-free scheme faces praise and criticism as expansion looms.
—4 min read
Economy
172,000 Jobs Added in May, But Young Graduates Left Behind
The U.S. added 172,000 jobs in May, beating expectations. But with underemployment at 43%, a separate crisis is unfolding for young graduates.
—7 min read
EconomyJobs
US Private Sector Adds 122,000 Jobs in May, Beats Forecasts
The US private sector added 122,000 jobs in May, exceeding forecasts. ADP report shows broad-based hiring gains across industries and business sizes.
—4 min read
EconomyWorkforce
Remote Work, Not AI, Is Sidelining Recent College Graduates
New research from the NY Fed finds remote work, not AI, is the primary driver of rising unemployment among recent college graduates.
—5 min read
TechnologyLabor
45% of Employers Now Distrust AI-Generated Cover Letters
Nearly half of Belgian employers no longer trust cover letters due to AI-generated content, a new survey reveals, exposing a major perception gap.
—4 min read
EconomyUnited States
US Jobless Claims Rise to 215,000; Layoffs Low Amid Iran War
Weekly US jobless claims rose to 215,000, but layoffs remain historically low despite economic uncertainty from the Iran war and rising oil prices.
—5 min read
TechnologyEconomy
OpenAI CEO Admits AI Costing Fewer Jobs Than Feared
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says AI is displacing fewer jobs than predicted, admitting 'I’m glad I was wrong' about white-collar job losses.
—5 min read
TechnologyEconomy
AI Drives Two-Way Shift in China's Labor Market, Survey
A new Zhaopin survey shows AI is creating and destroying jobs in China simultaneously, with AI hiring surging 12x while vulnerable roles shrink.
—6 min read
HealthSociety
576,000 Belgians on Long-Term Sick Leave: A Nation in Crisis
Over 576,000 Belgians are now on long-term sick leave. A new demographic analysis reveals who they are, what ails them, and why the crisis is deepening.
—5 min read
SocietyPolitics
Social Fraud Reports Hit Record High in Belgium
Belgium records 7,873 social fraud reports in 2025, a historic high. Critics warn the surge promotes distrust, while the government defends it.
—4 min read
EconomyLabor
Flemish Workers Earned €2,895 Monthly, Gender Gap Narrows
Statistics Flanders data shows the average Flemish worker earned €2,895 net per month in 2024, with the gender pay gap narrowing to €371.
—4 min read
EconomyLabor
Highly Qualified Youth Struggle to Find Jobs in Belgium
Despite rising education levels, highly qualified young Belgians face growing job market difficulties as employers reject overqualified candidates.
—5 min read