Staff of Flemish public administration

At the end of 2023, 29,517 people worked in the services of the Flemish public administration (open definition) . The number of staff rose from 2006 until 2009 and subsequently declined until 2014. Between 2014 and 2019, around 1,500 new staff members were recruited. This increase was a consequence of the sixth state reform and the internal administration reform, whereby Flanders acquired new competences and staff members were transferred from the federal and provincial level. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of staff increased by 515.

Not all staff members work full-time, which is shown in staff availability (open definition) expressed in full-time equivalents (FTE). At the end of 2023, staff availability was 26,556 FTE. The availability has been fluctuating around 25,000 FTE between 2008 and 2012. In 2013, availability fell to 24,500 FTE, to rise again from 2014. The number of FTEs increased by 607 between 2022 and 2023.

In 2023 59% of the staff members of the services of the Flemish public administration were women.

More than half of the staff members is older than 45 years, 28% is between 35 and 44 years and 19% is 34 years or younger.

Two out of three staff members are employed at the higher function levels A or B. A similar proportion are statutory staff members.

In 2023, 5 policy areas together employ more than 80% of the Flemish public administration personnel. These are the Welfare, Public Health and Family policy area, the Work and Social Economy policy area, the Mobility and Public Works policy area and the Environment and Spatial Development policy area. Each has more than 4,000 FTE. As the 5^th largest policy area, Chancellery, Public Governance, Foreign Affairs and Justice employs just over 3,500 FTEs.

The Economy, Science and Innovation policy area is the smallest policy area, with

668 FTE. In addition to the staff of the 10 policy areas of the Flemish public administration, about 150 FTEs work for GO! Education of the Flemish Community.