Moroccan Workers Make Up 8.2% of Brussels’ Foreign Workforce, Study Finds

This figure has increased by 23.5% over the past five years, according to the results of a survey by the company Acerta on the diversity of nationalities in the Brussels employment market.

According to the company, this development is explained by the massive recruitment carried out beyond the borders by Belgian companies, faced with a labor shortage. "The shortage in the labor market is one reason among others to recruit as widely as possible, but it should not be the only one. We also note that companies feel the need to reflect society," said Niko Smeets, Sales Director at Acerta Brussels.

Alongside the Moroccans, the French constitute the highest share (13.6%) of foreign workers in Brussels, the survey reveals. They are followed by Italians (5.8%), Poles (5.6%), Romanians (5.3%), Congolese (4.5%), Dutch (4.3%), Turks (2.3%) and Indians (1.6%) and finally, Cameroonians (1.4%).

These Moroccans are mainly active in the food industry (53.4%), transport and logistics (42.7%) and construction (41%). On the other hand, they are less present (2.7%) in the metallurgical industry, Acerta indicates.