In Belgium, shortage occupation lists guide job seekers, particularly foreign nationals, towards sectors facing a deficit of qualified workers. These lists are published independently by each Belgian region – Flanders, Brussels, and Wallonia – and are compiled by regional employment agencies (respectively, VDAB, Actiris, and Le Forem). These lists act as navigational tools directing individuals toward employment opportunities, but also allow employment authorities to create targeted policies and initiatives in response to labour shortages to help balance the Belgian labour market.

Belgium's shortage occupation lists are also useful in forecasting future labour needs, enabling proactive measures to bridge gaps across sectors and bringing a steady supply of skilled labour. Additionally, they support the inclusion of foreign workers in the Belgian job market and facilitate their integration.

The conditions to work in Belgium are the same across all three regions: a 90-day work permit or a longer 'unique permit' are required for both the residence and employment of foreigners in the country. Certain categories of foreign nationals, though, are exempt from this requirement: citizens of other EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland are all permitted to work in any job in Flanders and for any employer without a work permit.

Wallonia encourages job seekers to consider shortage occupations by offering bonuses of up to €2 000 for specific jobs. Financial incentives are provided to learners who successfully complete training that leads to short-period occupation, and various financial incentives are available to workers choosing to take up a job in high demand. The Walloon Region has proposed to legalise undocumented migrants in order to fill job gaps, but this proposal has not yet been taken up.

In Flanders, unskilled newcomers will be required to undergo training for occupations facing shortages. This initiative requires unqualified newcomers to learn trades such as truck driving, nursing or childcare through on-the-job training as part of the obligatory integration process.

Brussels also faces difficulties filling specific job vacancies, such as for nurses, truck drivers, and IT specialists. It is therefore recruiting from outside the EU in countries such as Lebanon. The government acknowledges the need to update existing laws for temporary hiring during periods of labour shortage, which is currently leading to an increase in permits while undocumented workers are still ineligible for them.

Improving access to professions by simplifying admission procedures could significantly enhance opportunities for migrants seeking employment within the Belgian job market amid job shortages, and protect them against labour exploitation. This goes hand in hand with improving the recognition of foreign qualifications by promoting transparency and comparability of skills, ensuring that skills obtained abroad are equally valued.

On the EU level, the European Commission (EC)'s European Year of Skills focuses on reskilling and upskilling programmes that aim to address worker deficits in the healthcare, IT and hospitality sectors. It promotes inclusive access to skills development and the attraction of skilled individuals from third countries in order to address labour shortages in the EU.