Software Developer Hiring Trends in Belgium

This report was last updated on Aug 16, 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 engineers job market in Belgium is currently characterized by significant fluctuations, with a peak of 1,245 new roles posted in week 21, alongside weekly closures exceeding 700 positions in subsequent weeks, indicating a challenging recruitment landscape.
A notable concentration of job openings exists in Brussels, which accounts for 61% of the total opportunities, followed by Antwerp at 17% and Ghent at 10%, making these locations key targets for hiring managers seeking software engineering talent.
The market shows a clear preference for full-time positions, comprising 90% of available roles, which hiring managers should consider when designing their recruitment strategies in the software job market in Belgium.
The competitive nature of the hiring environment is evident as the jobs-to-talent pool ratio in Belgium is tighter compared to nearby countries, emphasizing the need for innovative recruitment strategies for CTOs in Belgium's tech sector.
The median time to hire software engineers stands at 32 days, with most roles filled within a 30 to 40-day timeframe, highlighting the importance of efficient recruitment processes to secure qualified candidates amidst growing demand.

Number of roles opened and closed for Software Engineers in Belgium in the last 3 months

The software engineering job market in Belgium has shown significant fluctuations over the past 12 weeks, with a considerable peak in week 21, where 1,245 new software developer roles were posted. In contrast, there was a notable number of job closures throughout this period, particularly in weeks 22 to 24, with over 700 positions closed weekly. The overall trend indicates a challenging environment, as the difference between jobs opened and closed presents a critical dynamic for hiring managers. Compared to other roles in Belgium or in similar European markets, these trends signal a pressing need for strategic recruitment approaches that can adapt to the evolving landscape of software developer opportunities.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Belgium:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
i-mens	Belgium	Civic & Social Organization	null	116
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	71
TieTalent	Switzerland	Information Technology & Services	2017	52
Vivid Resourcing	United Kingdom	Staffing & Recruiting	2009	40
STIB-MIVB	Belgium	Leisure, Travel & Tourism	1954	38
Belgie Vacature	Netherlands	Human Resources	2011	37
KPMG Belgium	Belgium	Management Consulting	null	34
Keyrock	Belgium	Financial Services	2017	31
Aertssen Group	Belgium	Construction	1958	30
EUROPEAN DYNAMICS	Greece	Information Technology & Services	1993	24

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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 engineers job market trends in Belgium reveal a competitive landscape characterized by a significant number of job openings compared to the available talent pool. With Belgium presenting a jobs-to-talent pool ratio that is comparatively tighter than countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands, hiring managers may face challenges in sourcing qualified candidates. This indicates that the recruitment strategies for CTOs in Belgium's tech sector need to be innovative and proactive to attract necessary talent. As the future demand for software engineers in Belgium increases, companies must navigate these constraints by offering attractive propositions to potential hires. Overall, while opportunities for software developers in Belgium are considerable, the emerging trends in software programmer hiring across Europe suggest that the market remains competitive and requires strategic approaches in talent acquisition.

Seniority distribution of Software Engineer job openings in Belgium

Seniority Distribution of Software Engineering Jobs in Belgium

In the competitive software engineering job market in Belgium, the seniority distribution reveals significant trends that are pivotal for hiring managers. Currently, 46% of available positions are for Mid-Senior level engineers, followed by 34% for Entry level roles, and 16% for Associate positions. Understanding these figures is essential for CTOs and recruiters as they plan their recruitment strategies in Belgium's tech sector, ensuring they target the right candidates to meet their needs.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Belgium

The software engineers job market trends in Belgium reveal a clear preference for full-time roles, which dominate the landscape with 90% of positions. Contract roles account for 10% of opportunities, while part-time positions are significantly lower, comprising just 1% of the market. This distribution underscores the importance for hiring managers to align their recruitment strategies with the prevalent demand for full-time software engineering talent.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Belgium

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

In analyzing the time to hire distribution for software roles in Belgium, it is evident that the majority of positions are filled within a 30 to 40-day timeframe, with 1662 roles hired in under 30 days and 443 roles in 40 days. Notably, there is a significant drop in hiring for positions taking longer than 40 days, indicating a potential bottleneck for recruitment. This trend highlights a crucial insight for hiring managers and CTOs: efficient recruitment strategies are essential to secure top talent. For those targeting software engineer roles, understanding these hiring trends can greatly influence recruitment timelines and tactics.

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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 location distribution for Software Engineer job openings reveals a significant concentration of opportunities in Brussels, which accounts for 61% of the total job market. Antwerp follows with 17%, while Ghent constitutes 10% of the openings. This data underscores the capital city's pivotal role in the Software job market in Belgium, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

Most sought after technologies in Belgium for Software

Key technologies for Software Engineers

In the current landscape of the software job market in Belgium, several technologies have emerged as the most in-demand among potential employers. Java holds a prominent position with a frequency of 10,261 mentions, showcasing its critical role in enterprise-level applications. This is closely followed by JavaScript, which is a fundamental technology for web development, appearing 8,026 times in the data. Python has also proven to be highly popular, with a usage frequency of 10,261, reflecting its significance across various domains such as data science and web applications. Additionally, PHP and TypeScript represent vital skills sought after by recruiters, with frequencies of 5,625 and 5,079, respectively. These insights highlight emerging trends in software programmer hiring across Europe, which will assist hiring managers in crafting their recruitment strategies effectively. For a visual representation, please refer to the attached chart.

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