The Flemish government has published for the first time an outline of the ‘social state’ of the region, summarising the main trends over the last 25 years. With regard to the field of work, the report concludes that the rate of employment and entrepreneurship has increased. In addition, a stable regime of labour conditions and industrial relations is found; however, the study identified a polarising trend in job quality related to a skill-segmented labour market.
About the report
At the request of the Flemish parliament, the Study Department of the Flemish government took the initiative to compile a two-yearly report on The social state of Flanders (De sociale staat van Vlaanderen (in Dutch, 7.2Mb PDF)) concerning the social situation in Flanders. The report considers six domains of life, including work. In 2009, the first edition of this new series was published. It is a kind of ‘zero’ edition, whereby the current situation is described and analysed by taking into account the major trends and developments of the last 25 years. It was in the beginning of the 1980s that Flanders really took authority at regional policy level, due to Belgian federalisation.
Chapter 3 of the report, written by a team from the Catholic University of Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KUL), summarises the main trends and developments in the field of work. The contribution is built around two central issues in this regard: employment levels and job quality. The first issue concerns the question ‘how much work?’, while the second explores ‘what kind of work?’ The chapter uses a mix of existing data and literature, including the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound).
Employment levels
The trends in relation to the amount or degree of work underline that work and labour have not become less important in Flemish society. Although, in the 1970s, utopian writers announced the coming of the leisure society, 25 to 30 years later Flanders has never had so many people at work. The employment rate has increased to more than 66% and is on the rise for all kinds of groups of workers – especially female workers, but also older or foreign people (see figure). Doubts are sometimes raised about the lack of entrepreneurship in the region. The long-term statistics show, however, that the proportion of self-employed workers is also on the increase.
Rising employment rates in Flanders between 1996 and 2008 (%)
Nevertheless, although employment rates have been rising up until 2008 – which is as far as the study considers – the authors emphasise that there is still a long way to go to boost the employment levels of older people aged 55–64 years and of people of foreign origin.
Working time patterns
The proportion of part-time employment, linked to the strong growth in female employment, has increased considerably in this 25-year period. In relation to working time, Flanders seems to be little affected by the 24-hour economy. Most people work in a regular period on week days and during ‘normal’ working time (between 8.00 and 18.00). The proportion of people working in an irregular working time regime (night, weekend and shift work) has even slightly decreased (Table 1).
Table 1: Workers (15 to 64 years) in a range of working time regimes, Flanders, 1998–2004 (%)
| | 1988 | 1999 | 2004 |
| Working between 6.00 and 19.00 | 62 | 68 | 67 |
| Working on a Saturday (times a year) | | | |
| - Never | 46 | 50 | 42 |
| - 1–11 | 15 | 18 | 23 |
| - 12–26 | 15 | 16 | 15 |
| - More than 26 | 25 | 16 | 19 |
| Working on a Sunday (times a year) | | | |
| - Never | 67 | 70 | 63 |
| - 1–11 | 13 | 13 | 17 |
| - 12–26 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
| - More than 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
Note: Based on time account studies.
Source: Glorieux et al, 2007, cited in ‘The social state of Flanders’, p. 88
Stability dominates not only in relation to working time regimes but also in respect of careers. Job stability stays high throughout the period under study. Seniority at work is high and the Flemish worker, when surveyed about it, appreciates this situation. Flemish workers value job security highly and see no advantage in considerable job mobility. Satisfaction with a stable job is therefore very high.
Job quality
However, the trend results in relation to job quality do not confirm that a paid job has become more comfortable over time. The figures reveal a decrease in monotonous work but also signal an increase in time pressure. Aspects of work like support from colleagues, physical working conditions or learning opportunities have improved. At the same time, the proportion of employees confronted with a high pace of work or tight deadlines has increased notably (Table 2).
Table 2: Workers having to work to tight deadlines and at a high pace in Belgium, 1990–2005 (%)
| | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 |
| High pace of work | 44 | 50 | 52 | 61 |
| Tight deadlines | 34 | 40 | 53 | 62 |
Source: EWCS
Work has thus surely contributed to the general feeling of greater time pressure of the Flemish average person. In relation to these trends in job quality, the report authors speak of a ‘polarisation’, whereby a better job quality has been developed in the higher labour market segments and a worse job quality has infiltrated the lower labour market segments. Educational and skills levels are crucial to determining participation in the higher or lower labour market segment.
Participation in training has also increased significantly in the last 25 years. This is not only the case for formal training but also for training on-the-job. However, a wide gap remains between the training opportunities for higher and lower skilled workers. Paradoxically, more training is offered to those who are already well-qualified.
Figures in relation to industrial relations mark a trend towards more social dialogue. The coverage rate of collective agreements has not declined; this is the case also for trade union membership and participation in works council elections. Meanwhile, strike intensity has decreased.
Guy Van Gyes, Higher Institute of Labour Studies (HIVA), Catholic University of Leuven (KUL)
