More than a quarter of Belgium's flexi-job holders were retired in the third quarter of 2025, according to new data from Sigedis, highlighting the continued growth of the scheme.

The data, analysed in collaboration with the ONSS, showed that in the third quarter of 2025, 261,868 people held flexi-jobs, a net increase compared with the same period in 2024.

The flexi-job scheme was introduced in Belgium in 2015 and allowed individuals to earn extra income under tax-favourable conditions.

Flexi-jobs are reserved for workers who work at least four-fifths of their working hours for one or more other employers and pensioners. A worker may only take on a flexi-job if they are working at least 80 per cent of the time during the relevant quarter.

Initially restricted to the hospitality sector, the scheme has since been expanded to include sectors such as commerce, sport, film, entertainment, and healthcare.

The data showed that the majority of pensioners holding flexi-jobs also combine this work with another job, with more than 70 per cent working alongside additional employment.

The analysis also found that 83 per cent of flexi-job holders work more than 95 per cent of their hours in their main job, while 17 per cent work between 80 per cent and 95 per cent.

As can be seen from the data, flexi-jobs are mainly carried out by people who already have a full-time or almost full-time job during the quarter used to assess eligibility.

The figures also highlighted a gender dynamic among flexi-job holders.

Among the smaller group of individuals working between 80 per cent and 95 per cent in their main job, women accounted for 71 per cent and men 29 per cent.

In contrast, among the larger group working more than 95 per cent in their main job, the gender split was almost equal, with men accounting for 49 per cent (54,607 people) and women 51 per cent (56,823 people).

Sigedis noted that the number of people with flexi-jobs has continued to grow, although the scheme is still primarily used as a way of supplementing existing full-time employment.

The organisation said it will be “interesting” to monitor how the scheme develops in the future, particularly as, from July 2026, flexi-jobs are due to be opened to all private and public sectors, subject to the rules governing access to regulated professions.

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