Java Developer Hiring Trends in Brussels, 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 Java Engineers job market trends in Belgium, particularly in Brussels, reveal a dynamic landscape with a substantial demand for talent and strategic hiring considerations for tech leaders.
Brussels accounts for 68% of the total job openings in Belgium, making it the primary hub for Software Java Developer opportunities, with Antwerp and Ghent trailing at 19% and 12% respectively.
The competitive environment for hiring Software Java Engineers is evident, with a talent pool comprising 3.5 qualified candidates for each job opening, necessitating the adoption of innovative recruitment strategies by CTOs and engineering managers.
The majority of roles available are mid-senior level positions (71%), indicating a strong preference within the industry for experienced candidates, which is crucial for hiring managers as they formulate their talent acquisition strategies.
With a median time to hire of 32 days, it is imperative for hiring managers in Brussels to streamline their recruitment processes to secure top talent efficiently in the competitive Software Java job market.

Number of roles opened and closed for Java Engineers in Brussels in the last 3 months

Recent data highlights notable trends in the Software Java Engineers job market in Belgium Brussels. Over the past 12 weeks, the region experienced fluctuating activity, with a peak of 23 new jobs posted in week 33, contrasting sharply with 24 jobs closed in week 35. This indicates a dynamic landscape where hiring managers must stay agile amid competition, especially given that the number of jobs opened consistently outnumbers those closed in several weeks. Compared to other roles within the tech sector in Belgium, Software Java Engineer positions are witnessing a relatively stable demand, aligning with broader trends in hiring Senior Software Java Developers across Europe.

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

The software development job market in Belgium, particularly for Software Java Engineers, faces challenging conditions, with a ratio of 3.5 talent pool members available for each job opening. In comparison, the Netherlands exhibits a more favorable landscape with 5.0 talents per opening, indicating a simpler hiring process for recruiters. Germany and France showcase similar difficulties, evidenced by their lower talent-to-job ratios of 2.2 and 2.7 respectively. Consequently, hiring managers in Belgium must adopt strategic recruitment strategies to attract Software Java Developers, especially amidst growing competition from neighboring countries.

Seniority distribution of Java Engineer job openings in Brussels

Seniority Distribution of Java Engineering Jobs in Brussels

In Belgium, particularly in Brussels, the seniority distribution for Software Java Engineering jobs reveals a significant concentration at the Mid-Senior level, comprising 71% of available roles. Entry level positions account for 13% of the job market, while Associate roles represent 11%. This distribution highlights the demand for experienced Software Java Engineers, providing valuable insight for hiring managers looking to attract top talent.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Belgium

In the competitive landscape of the software development job market, particularly for Software Java Engineers, the employment type distribution in Belgium reveals significant insights. Full-time roles dominate the market, accounting for 90% of available positions, followed by contract roles at 9% and part-time opportunities comprising 1%. This distribution highlights a strong preference for stable employment, which is crucial for hiring managers considering strategic recruitment in Belgium's tech sector.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Belgium

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The hiring landscape for Software Java Engineers in Belgium reveals a notable distribution in time to hire, with the majority of candidates being brought on board within 30 to 35 days. Specifically, there are 1,898 positions filled in 30 days, followed closely by 919 roles at the 35-day mark. This indicates that hiring managers in the Brussels area should anticipate a typical recruitment timeline spanning approximately one month. With only 281 hires occurring at the 45-day threshold and even fewer at extended intervals, it’s clear that quicker hiring processes are favored in the Belgium job market, making efficient recruitment strategies essential for CTOs and tech leaders aiming to attract top Software Java talent.

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Most popular cities in Belgium to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Belgium to hire Software Engineers

The distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Belgium is heavily dominated by Brussels, which accounts for 68% of the total vacancies. In comparison, Antwerp holds 19%, while Ghent contributes 12%. These statistics highlight the capital's central role in the Software Java job market in Belgium Brussels, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Brussels for Java

Key technologies for Java Engineers

In the rapidly evolving software development landscape of Belgium, particularly in Brussels, several technologies are pivotal to the Software Java Engineers job market. The foundational language of Java remains dominant with a remarkable usage frequency of 9,117, underscoring its critical role in application development. Complementing Java, Spring and Spring Boot are extensively utilized, with frequencies of 2,042 and 2,281, respectively, reflecting their importance in building robust enterprise applications. Additionally, Microservices architecture, with a frequency of 2,380, signifies a trend towards modular software development. For additional details, please refer to the accompanying chart that visually represents these technology trends.

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