Belgians are European champions when it comes to commuting, with a mental limit of a maximum of one hour per day.
A study by HR specialist SD Worx shows that the average Belgian does not want to travel more than half an hour each way to work. This study, conducted in the run-up to the International Mobility Week (16 to 22 September), specifically focused on regional differences within Belgium. The figures are striking, particularly with regard to satisfaction with commuting and the time employees are prepared to spend travelling to work.
The results show that Brussels residents live closest to their work on average, with an average distance of 12 kilometres. However, they spend longer on the road than expected, with an average of 57 minutes per day. This is almost an hour, while they travel fewer kilometres on average than, for example, East Flemish and Antwerp residents. One in five Brussels residents (20%) even indicate that they spend more than an hour and a half on the road per day. Despite these long travel times, one in five Brussels residents appear to be productive during their commute. For example, they use their travel time to carry out work-related tasks, something that is mainly possible thanks to the use of technology and teleworking.
However, a significant proportion of employees across the country are dissatisfied with the time they spend travelling. At least one in three employees considers commuting to be a waste of time, with Limburgers leading the way: 41% of them see their daily commute as a lost moment. Despite these negative feelings, the willingness to commute among Limburgers is remarkably high. They are prepared to travel an average of 61 kilometres, provided the total travel time remains under the one-hour limit. Nevertheless, the average Limburger is approaching his mental limit with an effective travel time of 55 minutes per day.
The research shows that most Belgians have a clear limit when it comes to their commute. The mental limit is around 60 minutes per day, although this limit is exceeded more often in some regions than in others. The regional differences are small, but significant enough to have an impact on the general satisfaction of employees.
In Antwerp, the average travel time is comparable to that of Brussels. Antwerp residents take an average of 56 minutes to travel to and from work. About two-thirds of Antwerp residents are satisfied with this travel time, although 22% indicate that they are on the road for more than an hour and a half per day. The distance they travel is relatively short at 32 kilometers, which means that traffic probably plays a major role in the total travel time.
East Flemish people take the crown when it comes to the longest travel time. On average, they spend 60 minutes a day travelling to and from work, making them the longest commuters in the country. It is striking that four out of ten East Flemish people spend more than an hour a day on the road, and a quarter even spend more than an hour and a half on the road. Despite these long travel times, the difference with other provinces remains small, which underlines the densely populated nature of the country.
In West Flanders, on the other hand, residents are most satisfied with their commuting time. Three quarters of West Flemish people (73%) indicate that they are satisfied with the time they spend commuting, and only 11% are dissatisfied. West Flemish people often live closer to their work, with an average commuting distance of 37 kilometres per day, or about 18 kilometres per one-way trip. Teleworking is less common there than in other regions: for seven out of ten West Flemish people, working from home is not even an option at all.
Although teleworking is becoming more common, particularly in Brussels, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders, it remains limited in many regions. Working from home is less popular, particularly in West Flanders and Antwerp. In Brussels, on the other hand, one in five employees (20%) does not have a fixed commuting pattern, indicating that teleworking plays a greater role there. In addition, almost a quarter of Brussels residents indicate that they regularly work from home, often one to three days a week.
Katleen Jacobs, HR advisor at SD Worx, explains that the metropolitan region of Brussels plays an important role in commuting in Belgium. “The region attracts many commuters from the surrounding provinces such as Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and East Flanders. As a result, we see that the average for those who work in Brussels is almost one and a half hours per day, or 80 minutes there and back. It is clear that one in three Belgians experiences commuting as a waste of time, but in Brussels we still see a record number of one in five who is actually productive during their commute.”
SD Worx
SD Worx, the leading European HR service provider, helps organisations with their HR and payroll. To understand what really matters to employers and employees, SD Worx regularly conducts surveys. The analysis of the latest survey, the 'Navigator Series', offers organisations a compass to navigate through the challenges of HR and payroll. The survey was conducted in February 2024 in 18 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Croatia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, the UK and Sweden. A total of 18.000 employees were surveyed. The results are weighted and guarantee a reliable representation of the labour market in each country.
More about the research – click here
