According to [this](https://m.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20230605_97140071) headline, unfortunately I have no access to the article, the local government in Flanders has problems finding people. I was wondering does this concern only certain vacancies for which there is a lot or competition from the private sector like engineers, architects and is this linked to an application process that is just too long and complicated (written exams, tests, oral exams spread out over several weeks) ?

I had the idea a local government job was a much desired position. That it is complicated to find Dutch speaking candidates and/or bilingual candidates in Brussels is logical and the adhering to Selor tests and strict diploma requirements by the government does not help either; the private sector has lots of examples that competencies are a far better indicator

11 comments

  2. As this is about municipal governments my guess is they’re (also) talking about lower level positions. I recall reading recently, for example, that the municipal swimming pool in Oostende is having to close it’s recreational pool on certain days as they can’t find lifeguards…

    I don’t know why you think these jobs are so desirable? Municipal governments generally don’t offer tenured positions anymore, pay is meh, benefits are limited, as are career opportunities…

  3. Which sector doesn’t have a shortage right now?

    Genuine question actually. I’m curious what (non-niche) fields still have 5+ viable candidates per job listing.

  4. First of all, you need at least a bachelor. Second, being a civil servant has no high social standing and people think the work is boring.
    The process to get hired by the state sucks ass. My team needs a new manager for at least a year. This is the process:

    – HR finds a person
    – Person gets the notification that they intend on hiring.
    – A process starts to see if the team can handle it in their budget (this takes at least 3 months)
    – Due to labor shortage person accepts another job.

    Rinse, Repeat

  5. Wasn’t there a whole article about how we have tons of civil servants sitting at home, being declared permanently ill because they’re too hard to fire?

  6. I wouldn’t mind a boring but well paying with good benefits government job at this point, since vacancies in my own sector aren’t proving very fruitful, because i don’t have experience and connections. I have a bachelor’s degree, speak fluent english and dutch, can do a speedrun fixing my intermediate french if necessary and can get to brussels, ghent and antwerp with ease. But where jobs???

  7. Ambtenaar hier (maatschappelijk werker bij het OCMW).

    Ja, er is een tekort.
    Ja, het wordt erger en erger.
    Ja, de dienstverlening lijdt eronder.
    Nee, het werk is niet saai (subjectief, anders zou ik deze job niet doen)
    Ja, ik merk het tekort op dagelijkse basis.

    Dat gezegd zijnde, zijn we verre van de enige sector die kampt met een tekort (zeg nu eerlijk, welke sector kent momenteel geen tekort?)

    Werken bij de overheid is eigenlijk heel plezant. De procedure om aangeworven te worden is archaïsch en kan enorm veel verbeterd en versneld worden, maar daar hebben wij weinig aan te zeggen.
    Momenteel is en blijft het motto: “roeien met de riemen die we hebben”, I guess 🙂

  8. My personal experience is exactly the same. Export roles are difficult to find, and since the private sector can pay more (and offer better extralegal services), most local governments are having difficulties to find expert roles as architects, engineers, mobility experts,…

    But I can highly recommend working for a local government. The work is hard, but the benefits are good. At my current job I get:

    – a better salary when I was working for a private company (advertising company)

    – more vacation days

    – better support from HR who are very supporting when you have questions.

    – very flexible working hours (I can work where and when I want)

    – very nice colleagues.

    – a nice working environment where I am not micromanaged.

  9. in special youthcare we have a shortage of caretakers. they closed a unit last year and still haven’t reopened

    It’s so bad they even asked me. I’ve been working nightshifts there for over a decade but have no pedagogic degree.

  10. The RVA (especially Ghent) is also in need of a looooot of administrative assistants (prob not the official title). They’re looking to hire only people with a bachelor’s degree, which is making it more difficult to find people

  11. Heeft dat ook niet wat met vergrijzing te maken? Ik kan me voorstellen dat die uitstroom van ambtenaren op sommige plaatsen massaal is. Reken daar logge instroom bij en een algemeen tekort op de arbeidsmarkt, waar de overheid met zijn minder aantrekkelijke lonen niet met privé bedrijven kan concurreren.

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