PHP Developer Hiring Trends in 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 has witnessed significant fluctuations in the last 12 weeks, with a peak of 88 new job postings in week 28, indicating a robust demand that warrants attention from hiring managers.
A total of 6,396 applications for PHP roles highlight the prevailing importance of this technology, with JavaScript and MySQL also featuring prominently, underscoring the need for recruitment strategies that align with these technology trends.
Mid-Senior level roles dominate the Software PHP Engineering job market, making up 43% of the positions available, which emphasizes the competitive nature of hiring for these skilled professionals in Belgium.
Brussels leads the demand for Software PHP Engineers, representing 64% of total job openings, followed by Antwerp and Ghent, making these cities key locations for hiring efforts.
With a median time to hire of 32 days for Software Engineers, hiring managers must refine their recruitment processes to ensure efficiency in attracting top talent within this competitive landscape.

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

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Belgium has shown significant fluctuations over the past 12 weeks, with a peak of 88 new job postings in week 28. Notably, the number of positions closed has also impacted the overall market dynamics, wherein an average of 46 positions closed weekly during the same period, indicating a strong turnover. When compared to other roles in Belgium, the demand for Software PHP Developers remains robust, particularly when juxtaposed with hiring trends across Europe, where similar roles have seen steadier closing rates. This suggests an urgency for hiring managers, including CTOs and Engineering Managers, to adapt their recruitment strategies to secure top PHP talent in a competitive landscape.

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 PHP job market in Belgium presents a challenging landscape for hiring managers, particularly when compared to neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and France. With a current ratio of job openings to the available talent pool, Belgium exhibits a tighter market, indicating a more competitive environment for recruiters. In contrast, countries like Germany and the Netherlands feature a more favorable ratio, suggesting that it may be easier to attract talent in those regions. As demand for skilled Software PHP Engineers increases, particularly for senior roles, recruitment strategies must be carefully tailored for Belgium's tech sector to successfully navigate these trends and secure top candidates.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Belgium

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Belgium

The seniority distribution of Software PHP Engineering jobs in Belgium reveals that 43% of positions are categorized as Mid-Senior level, making it the most prevalent seniority tier. Entry-level roles account for 36% of the job market, while Associate level positions comprise 16%. This data highlights the competitive landscape for Mid-Senior level Software PHP Engineers, as hiring managers must navigate a robust pool of skilled professionals.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Belgium

In the Belgian software development job market, the predominant employment type is full-time positions, accounting for 90% of available roles. Contract opportunities represent 9% of the market, while part-time roles constitute a modest 1%. This distribution highlights the strong preference for full-time engagement among Software PHP Engineers, reflecting industry trends in Belgium.

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 reflects a diverse landscape, with a notable concentration of hires occurring between 25 and 30 days, totaling 3,134 positions, which underscores the competitive market for these roles. Additionally, the data shows that a significant number of candidates are recruited within 10 to 40 days, highlighting robust recruitment cycles in Belgium's tech sector. Notably, the distribution indicates a gradual decline in hiring volumes as the time to hire exceeds 40 days, suggesting that CTOs and hiring managers should refine their recruitment strategies to attract top talent efficiently. This trend mirrors similar hiring patterns observed in Europe, where timely onboarding is increasingly crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the Software PHP job market.

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Most popular cities in Belgium to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Belgium to hire Software Engineers

The Software PHP job market in Belgium is predominantly concentrated in Brussels, which accounts for 64% of the total job openings. Antwerp follows as the second largest city with 17% of the openings, while Ghent represents 11%. This distribution underscores the significant role of the capital city in the demand for Software PHP Engineers.

Most sought after technologies in Belgium for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

The current landscape for Software PHP Engineers in Belgium highlights several key technologies that are essential for candidates seeking employment in this field. PHP remains the most prevalent technology, with a notable frequency of 6,396 applications. Other significant technologies include JavaScript, which ranks second with 3,423 occurrences, followed by MySQL at 1,874. Additional relevant technologies include HTML (1,508), CSS (1,248), and Laravel (1,344). For hiring managers, understanding these technology trends is crucial for attracting suitable candidates, as illustrated in the accompanying chart.

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