The Economics of Inclusion / National / 🇧🇪 Belgium
Original title: Evaluatie maatregel-collectief maatwerk. Onderzoek naar de leefbaarheid van collectief maatwerkbedrijven, structurele financiering en doeltreffendheid
Evaluation by HIVA-KU Leuven with Deloitte (Sept 2025), commissioned by the Flemish Department of Work and Social Economy, of 'collective custom work' enterprises employing over 25,000 people with a disability or far from the labour market. Its social cost-benefit analysis (MKBA) estimates a net +€6,257 per FTE per year for government and society and +€7,356 for workers, via lower benefits, higher taxes, health, crime and wellbeing.
Original title: Trendrapport 2024: Kwetsbare groepen op de Vlaamse arbeidsmarkt
Annual report by Vansteenkiste, Botterman, Geraert and Penders for the Flemish Department of Work and Social Economy / Steunpunt Werk (2024). About 580,000 Flemings (13.6% of 15–64-year-olds) have a long-term work-limiting disability or illness; only 47.3% of those aged 20–64 were employed in 2023, and 50.6% were inactive.
Original title: Arbeidsongeschiktheid en de re-integratie van werknemers op de arbeidsmarkt
Report of Belgium's High Council for Employment (March 2024) on the rising number of workers on long-term incapacity. The number incapacitated for at least a year grew by more than 150% between 2000 and 2021; partial return to work was used by 120,000 people in 2021, yet the share of incapacity spells lasting a year stayed around 20%. It makes five recommendations to speed up reintegration.
Original title: Incapacités de travail en 2025 : Combien d’invalidités en raison d’une dépression ou d’un burnout ? Quel coût pour l’assurance indemnités ?
Annual statistical release from Belgium's health and disability insurer INAMI/RIZIV on long-term (1+ year) incapacity due to depression and burnout. Such cases rose 32% from 2021 to 2025, and their cost to the benefits insurance exceeded €2.5bn in 2024, up 12% in one year and 78% since 2019.