Vacancies in healthcare sector at lowest level in three years: Antwerp leads despite downward trend

In 2023, the VDAB received 57,320 vacancies for jobs within the healthcare and social services sectors. This was 4,095 fewer vacancies than in 2022 and 3,790 fewer than in 2021, according to figures that Flemish MP Katrien Schryvers (CD&V) requested from Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits (CD&V).

The healthcare sector has been suffering from an acute staff shortage for years, but after two peak years in 2021 and 2022, the number of vacancies in the healthcare and social services sectors has fallen by 6.7 percent in 2023. “Of course, this does not alter the fact that the need for workers within these sectors remains very great,” says MP Katrien Schryvers.

Antwerp is the leader

The province of Antwerp had the largest number of vacancies last year with 16,670, accounting for almost a third of the total. This equates to no fewer than 45 vacancies per day. There are still many, even though the numbers are also declining in Antwerp. For example, there were 1,870 fewer vacancies in 2023 than in 2022. The province of West Flanders is the only province where a small increase (+107) in the number of vacancies was recorded.