Qu'est-ce que Actiris ?

Definition

Actiris is the regional employment service of the Brussels-Capital Region, operating across all 19 Brussels municipalities. It supports job seekers in finding employment and employers in recruiting staff, and manages specific Brussels-region hiring incentive programmes.

In practice

For job seekers, Actiris provides: personalised employment guidance and job matching; access to the job vacancy database; funded training pathways; specific programmes for young people (18–29, "Firstjob" programme), long-term unemployed, and other target groups. The Brussels labour market is distinctive: high structural unemployment (around 14%), a large proportion of jobs held by people commuting in from Flanders and Wallonia, and significant barriers for residents with lower qualifications or language skills. Brussels jobs require French and/or Dutch in many cases — Actiris offers language training to address this. For employers, Actiris provides: free job posting; candidate sourcing and pre-screening; eligibility assessment for hiring incentives (Plan Activa, Activa.Brussels); and dedicated account managers for larger recruiters. Job seekers in Brussels registered with Actiris must comply with active job-seeking obligations to maintain ONEM benefits. Actiris collaborates with VDAB and FOREM on cross-regional employer needs and labour mobility.

Key takeaway

Actiris operates in Belgium's most complex labour market — both job seekers and employers in Brussels benefit from engaging with its specialist advisors, not just the digital vacancy platform.