Are you considering working in Charleroi? The city is establishing itself as a revitalizing economic hub, with numerous opportunities available. From industry to healthcare, and including sectors like telecommunications and logistics, several industries are actively hiring. In this guide, discover how to search for a job, who the key market actors are, the working conditions, salaries, local taxation, and the means of transport to help ease your professional life in Charleroi.
The economy of Charleroi
Charleroi was once located in what was known as the Black Country, within the Belgian coal basin. The city has realized its true potential and has become one of the main hubs of the European rail and road networks. Today, it is the second most populous city in Wallonia.
Charleroi is the industrial center of Belgium. It is home to professionals working in the mechanical and electrical construction sectors, metallurgy, glassmaking, and, of course, the chemical industry. Here, you will find the leading steel company Industeel, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal, one of the global leaders in the sector.
Initially, the industries mentioned above were the main producers in Charleroi for many decades, but it was only in the 2000s that this city began to open up to other sectors, such as transportation, telecommunications, and healthcare.
This represents a real turnaround, as the city suffered from a disastrous economy between the 1970s and the late 1990s. In fact, Charleroi was so poor that it had one of the highest unemployment and poverty rates in all of Europe during the 1980s and 1990s.
Charleroi boasts a very dynamic cultural life and is a sports hotspot. The city has state-of-the-art infrastructure and several sports clubs, including Spirou Charleroi in basketball, La Villette Charleroi in table tennis, Action 21 Charleroi in futsal, Royal Charleroi SC, and ROC Charleroi in football. Charleroi also has the Stade du Pays de Charleroi, which can accommodate up to 30,000 people. Those seeking employment in the sports industry will find plenty of opportunities in this city.
Charleroi is also home to the headquarters of Forem (the regional employment agency in Wallonia) and the Walloon Social Credit Society (Walloon social loan company).
Interestingly, Charleroi does not have its own university, even though it is one of the largest cities in Belgium. It was not until 1966 that the University of Louvain decided to develop its campuses in the city, with three faculties. Other universities have since followed suit, such as the University of Namur, the University of Mons, and the Free University of Brussels. So, if you are looking for employment in academia, it may be a bit more challenging to find a job here, but not impossible.
Charleroi is home to Brussels South Charleroi Airport, located in the municipality of Gosselies. Most flights chartered by Ryanair can be found here, but there are other airlines serving the airport, such as Jetairfly and Wizz Air. This makes Charleroi an attractive place to settle and work if you are in the travel industry.
Looking for a job in Charleroi
Employment is a priority in Charleroi. Thus, the city works hand in hand with other entities that deal with employment and professional integration. The city is associated with all the major Belgian players in the employment sector (municipalities, employment agencies, private companies, federal and regional ministries, agencies dealing with employment for people with disabilities).
In general, you can easily find a job in Charleroi by browsing websites, just like almost anywhere in the world. LinkedIn is a popular platform to use, especially since European headhunters frequently use it to contact potential candidates. LinkedIn also has a job search function, as well as features to help you improve your skills in interviewing and resume writing. We recommend starting there if you prefer to use the Internet for job searching.
On the other hand, sites like Le Forem (the Walloon public employment service) and the following generalist platforms also allow you to find offers in Charleroi:
- Jobat.be: a widely used job listing site in Belgium
- Indeed.be: job offer aggregation engine
- Jobat.be: specialized in Wallonia and Flanders
- Monster.be: international, with local offers
- Stepstone.be: oriented towards qualified profiles
You can also check the City of Charleroi website, which regularly publishes calls for public positions or integration projects.
Finally, do not forget the local temp agencies (such as Start People, Tempo-Team, or Randstad), which offer temporary or permanent assignments in the Charleroi area.
The different players in the employment Sector
With people coming from all walks of life, it is quite reasonable for agencies to be created to help those in particular situations. Moreover, Charleroi does its best to support employment, which is why you will find several players in the employment sector here. Below are some of these main players.
The Agency for a Quality Life
This agency is responsible for major policies: Well-being and Health, Disability, and Family. It ensures compliance with the Walloon policy of integrating people with disabilities into work and helps candidates find a job or vocational training. Formerly the A.W.H.I.P, AVIQ even helps people with disabilities with financial benefits, especially when they need equipment to ensure their independence.
The Employment-training chamber
The Sub-regional Employment and Training Committee (CSEF) of Charleroi has evolved into the Employment-Training Chamber, integrated into the Hainaut South EFE Basin Instance. This chamber continues to play, in partnership with FOREM, an advisory role on local employment and training policies (approvals, schemes, action plans, etc.); FOREM, for its part, remains the public operator in charge of concrete actions on the ground.
Public center for social action (CPAS)
Every city in Belgium has its own CPAS, or Public Centers for Social Action. It has an employment section that connects candidates with social actors in the region.
More importantly, the CPAS is also the guarantor of a good quality of life. If you ever go through a difficult period, contact them, and the team of social workers can assess your situation and take appropriate measures to ensure you have decent living conditions.
The CPAS of Charleroi can help you if you are going through a difficult time. It offers social support, financial aid, and also mechanisms to facilitate a return to employment. It is an essential player in ensuring access to fundamental rights, including housing, health, or professional integration.
ONEM (National Employment Office)
This is a public agency responsible for social security, unemployment benefits, unemployment insurance, and other employment-related measures. If you ever need to take leave for personal reasons, you will need to contact ONEM. They can help you manage the issue.
Forem
Forem is the Walloon public employment service. It helps you find a job, take a training course, or better define your career project. In addition to job offers, it provides skills assessments, practical workshops, and tailored support.
Direction of Employment and Work Permits (Public Service of Wallonia)
The Direction of Employment and Work Permits is part of the Public Service of Wallonia and is responsible for managing employment-related policies in the region. It is notably in charge of issuing work permits for foreign nationals, labor market regulation, and implementing regional integration and economic recovery programs, such as the Recovery Plan or the Marshall Plan.
Federal Public Service Employment, Labor, and Social Dialogue (FPS Employment)
The FPS Employment is the federal body responsible for ensuring compliance with labor legislation in Belgium. It plays a central role in the protection of workers' rights, the relations between employers and employees, and the promotion of well-being at work.
It is also at the FPS that you can report problematic situations in a company: non-compliant working conditions, harassment, lack of safety, etc. It is not a union, but rather an independent public administration that ensures labor law is enforced.
Finally, the FPS also provides practical information on contracts, leave, working hours, or rules related to international secondment.
Regional Mission for Insertion and Employment in Charleroi (MIREC in Belgium)
The MIREC works with professionals in the field of socio-professional integration. Its goal? To concretely fight against exclusion and discrimination in hiring by offering tailored support: coaching, training, internships, etc.
If you need a helping hand to get back into the workforce, MIREC can be a truly reliable partner.
Companies in Charleroi
There are online business directories, like charleroi entreprises.be, which list over 1,000 active companies in the construction sector (construction, renovation, carpentry, plumbing…). These platforms are an excellent resource if you work in these fields: not only do they facilitate job searching, but they are also ideal for networking and spotting future partners or employers.
Work permits in Belgium
If you are a citizen of a European Union (EU) country, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, you will not need to apply for a work permit, thanks to the principle of freedom of movement.
You can simply move to Charleroi, find a job, apply, and be hired immediately. In fact, this feature will make your application even more attractive.
However, if you come from a third country (outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland), a residence and work permit is required. In Belgium, there are several types of permits, such as the Single Permit, the European Blue Card, or specific permits (permit A, B, or C) depending on the duration, type of employment, and your profile.
Salaries in Charleroi
As a reference point, the Belgian minimum wage for a full-time worker (38h/week) has increased to €2,111.89 since February 2025. This is one of the highest amounts in Western Europe. However, it should be noted that social charges and taxes can account for between 25 and 30% of the gross salary, depending on your personal and tax situation.
On average, a full-time employee in Belgium earns a little over €3,100 gross per month (2024 figures). This amount varies depending on the sectors and regions. Graduates with a master's degree can expect salaries of up to €5,000 or more, depending on experience and field of activity.
In the province of Hainaut, where Charleroi is located, the average gross monthly salary was around €3,200 at the beginning of 2025.
Income taxes in Belgium
In Belgium, all income received is generally taxable, but the way you will be taxed depends on your tax status.
- If you are a tax resident in Belgium (meaning you live there stably, more than 183 days a year), you will be taxed on all your income. This includes, for example, fees received from abroad.
- In contrast, if you are a non-resident (you live elsewhere but receive Belgian income), you will only be taxed on your Belgian-source income.
The Belgian tax system is progressive, with brackets ranging from 25% to 50% depending on the level of income. Social contributions are added to this.
Each year, the tax administration sends a tax return to be completed, usually between April and June. The payment deadline is set around June 30 if you declare on paper, or a little later via Tax-on-web, the online platform of the SPF Finances.
To help offset income taxes, the Belgian government offers an expatriate credit. Those eligible can benefit from a tax advantage in the form of deductions.
The work culture in Charleroi
In general, you can expect workplaces in Charleroi to have a mix of French and Dutch management styles.
The most popular is the French management style, with a top-down approach where superiors are generally the only ones making decisions.
However, there is a shift towards the Dutch management style, which is more egalitarian. Management is more horizontal, allowing employees to give their opinions on projects and key company decisions.
As a result, depending on the company you work for, you may have more or less room to maneuver. But overall, mindsets are changing, and that's a good sign!
How to get to work in Charleroi
There are several ways to get to work in Charleroi. It depends on where you live and the distance from the city.
If you live far from the city, you will be pleased to know that there is an efficient railway system, operated by the SNCB, which connects Charleroi to almost all major Belgian cities, such as Brussels, Namur, and Mons. It takes only 30 to 40 minutes to get to Charleroi from the latter two cities, and about 50 minutes from Brussels. In this case, you must get off at the main station, Charleroi-Sud.
However, you can also get off at the Charleroi-Ouest station if it brings you closer to your workplace. In this case, you should take the Charleroi–Ottignies line.
For your commutes within the city, you can rely on the TEC Charleroi network, which covers the region with bus lines and a light metro (also called the Charleroi Light Metro). This service is specific to the Walloon Region and efficiently connects the city's neighborhoods.
The Charleroi light metro was initially designed to serve eight branches in the 1960s. Ultimately, only a few sections were completed, forming a central loop and two main branches: Gilly–Soleilmont and Gosselies. Despite its limitations, this network remains an asset for certain journeys.
Of course, you can always choose to drive to work like many other Belgians. In this case, you can reach Charleroi by taking the E42 highway if you are coming from Namur or Mons. However, if you are coming from Brussels, you will need to take the E19 towards Mons and then join the A54 at Nivelles to reach Charleroi.
Carpooling is also an increasingly used option to get to Charleroi, especially thanks to platforms like Carpool, Blablacar Daily, or through local groups. Convenient if you live nearby or want to reduce your transportation costs.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
