The study was carried out across the twenty EU countries where the foreign-born population accounts for at least 10 per cent of the total population in 2025. It demonstrates a general improvement in the employment situation of these populations at the European level. The average employment rate of non-EU immigrants in these 20 countries reaches its highest level since 2017, rising from 59.4 to 66 per cent in 2025.
This figure of 58.5 per cent should also be compared with the employment rate of native Belgians, which stands at 68.6 per cent, and with that of immigrants from the European Union, which rises to 70.3 per cent — a figure slightly below the EU average for this group (74.8 per cent), likely linked to the presence of European institutions in Brussels.
At the Belgian level, having a university degree does not help non-EU immigrants catch up with the employment levels of native graduates. Belgium is ranked among the countries showing a significant negative gap for highly qualified workers.
The study reveals a substantial gender gap of 17.5 points in the employment rate of non-European immigrants. Belgium does not stand out in this regard, with a gap of 18.7 points. However, the proportion of employed women from non-European countries in the country is below 50 per cent (49.5 per cent), making it the second-lowest rate in Europe after Italy (48.5 per cent).
The Rockwool Foundation Berlin is an independent, non-profit research institute based in Berlin (Germany), created and funded by the Rockwool Foundation, a charitable organisation linked to the founding family of the Danish industrial group of the same name.
The initial translation of this content was generated by AI. All facts, context, and language have subsequently been verified and validated by a human editorial team.
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