PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Antwerp, Belgium

This report was last updated on Sep 6, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Belgium Antwerp is currently facing a challenging environment, highlighted by fluctuating job postings and a concerning trend of closed roles outpacing new openings.
Over the past 12 weeks, there have been a total of 1,501 job openings for Software PHP Engineers in Antwerp, with a peak of 13 roles advertised in week 32, indicating sporadic demand.
The seniority distribution of Software PHP Engineering positions reveals that 41% of available roles are entry-level, 33% are mid-senior, and 18% are associate-level, suggesting a need for targeted recruitment strategies to attract a diverse range of candidates.
Top companies hiring Software PHP Engineers in Belgium include i-mens, Canonical, and TieTalent, underscoring the competitive landscape for talent acquisition.
The median time to hire for Software PHP Engineers in Belgium is 32 days, indicating the necessity for agile recruitment strategies as hiring managers navigate the complexities of the current market.

Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Antwerp in the last 3 months

Over the past 12 weeks, the Software PHP Engineer job market in Belgium Antwerp has experienced fluctuations in job postings, with a peak of 13 new roles advertised in week 32. However, the recruitment landscape indicates a concerning trend, as the number of closed jobs has exceeded new postings in several weeks, notably closing 11 positions in week 26 compared to only 6 new openings. This suggests a challenging environment for hiring managers in Belgium Antwerp, particularly when assessing the need for Software PHP Engineer roles in comparison to other European tech markets, where demand may be more stable. CTOs and engineering leaders should consider adaptive recruitment strategies since the hiring trends for Senior Software PHP Developers are showing signs of volatility, necessitating a careful approach to attracting top talent.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Belgium:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
i-mens	Belgium	Civic & Social Organization	null	123
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	95
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	75
Belgie Vacature	Netherlands	Human Resources	2011	44
Vivid Resourcing	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2009	42
STIB-MIVB	Belgium	Leisure, Travel & Tourism	1954	37
KPMG Belgium	Belgium	Management Consulting	null	36
Keyrock	Belgium	Financial Services	2017	35
Aertssen Group	Belgium	Construction	1958	29
Sopra Steria	France	Information Technology & Services	1968	27

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Belgium

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Belgium

In the European software development landscape, the talent market for Software PHP Engineers reveals significant disparities across countries. In Belgium, particularly in Antwerp, the number of job openings is juxtaposed against a relatively modest talent pool, indicating a challenging hiring environment. For instance, neighboring countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands boast larger talent pools relative to their job vacancies, resulting in a more favorable hiring atmosphere. This disparity suggests that CTOs and tech leads in Belgium Antwerp may face increased competition for skilled Software PHP Developers, making effective recruitment strategies essential to secure top talent in this competitive market.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Antwerp

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Antwerp

In the Belgium Antwerp job market for Software PHP Engineers, the seniority distribution reveals significant insights for hiring managers. Entry level positions account for 41% of the total job market, while Mid-Senior level roles represent 33%. Furthermore, Associate positions follow, making up 18% of the available opportunities. This distribution emphasizes the importance of targeting a diverse range of candidates when considering recruitment strategies.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Belgium

In Belgium, the employment landscape for engineering roles is predominantly characterized by full-time positions, comprising 90% of available jobs. Contract roles make up 9%, while part-time positions account for 1%. Understanding this distribution is crucial for hiring managers in Belgium Antwerp, particularly when strategizing for Software PHP Engineer recruitment.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Belgium

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire for Software PHP Engineers in Belgium exhibits significant variability, with a notable concentration of hiring outcomes between 30 and 50 days. Specifically, the largest segment of hires occurs around the 30-day mark, accounting for 1,898 placements, followed by 1,236 candidates hired within 25 days. Hiring managers should note that a majority of the recruitment results cluster within the 10 to 40-day range, indicating that agile recruitment strategies will be vital for securing top talent in the rapidly evolving software landscape. This data insight is crucial for CTOs and engineering managers refining their recruitment strategies for Software PHP roles in Belgium, particularly as they navigate the competitive job market in Antwerp and beyond.

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Most popular cities in Belgium to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Belgium to hire Software Engineers

In Belgium, the distribution of Software Engineer job openings indicates a significant concentration in Brussels, which accounts for 56% of total positions with 5,457 openings. Antwerp follows with a strong presence at 15% and 1,501 roles available. Ghent contributes 9% to the job market, featuring 939 openings. This data, illustrated in the accompanying chart, underscores the regional disparities in the Software PHP Engineers job market in Belgium.

Most sought after technologies in Antwerp for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

In the Software PHP job market in Belgium, particularly in Antwerp, several technologies are pivotal in shaping hiring trends. PHP continues to dominate the landscape with a usage frequency of 6,396, reflecting its essential role in web development projects. Additionally, JavaScript (3,423) and HTML (1,508) are also prevalent, underscoring the importance of front-end development skills alongside backend PHP expertise. MySQL (1,874) and SQL (1,850) further indicate that database management remains a critical competency for Software PHP Engineers. As shown in the accompanying chart, tools like Laravel (1,344) and Symfony (1,122) are also frequently leveraged, highlighting a robust preference for frameworks that enhance PHP development capabilities.

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