People love numbers. They give the illusion of clarity. So when we hear that 45% of women with a migration background in Belgium are inactive in the labor market, it sounds simple. But it’s not, because “inactive” doesn’t mean lazy nor unmotivated. It often means: unseen. Let’s ask ourselves: What’s really going on?
In labor market terms, inactive means not working and not officially job hunting, yet it doesn’t tell the full story. It doesn’t include the woman raising three kids with no access to childcare, the one providing care to a sick parent or newcomers navigating a complex system in a new language. It doesn’t include the foreign degrees that aren’t recognized, or the confidence lost after years of silent rejections. It definitely doesn’t include the women who stopped applying because every “no” felt personal.
When we look at the numbers, it does confirm what we already know:
- Only 37% of women with North African or Middle Eastern roots are active in the labor market (King Baudouin Foundation, 2023)
- For women born outside the EU: just 55–60% are employed (Scheers, 2025)
- Compared to 79% for Belgian-born women
People love numbers, but should also look at the reasoning behind them. I’ve seen the reasons firsthand. After 15+ years in HR, I’ve witnessed what most people only suspected. CVs rejected based on a name. Assumptions made before a word is spoken. “She won’t fit the team.”, “That kind of job is too demanding.” And the kicker? For cleaning jobs, the logic flipped — women with Belgian names were often passed over.
I’ve been lucky. I came to Belgium at 13, studied in Dutch, and never struggled to find work. But I’ve always know that it could have gone differently. Not because of my skills, but because of perception. What the stats don’t show is the resilience. The energy poured into caregiving, community, and creativity. They don’t show the women who didn’t wait to be “included” and just started building. And they definitely don’t show what we see at #SheDIDIT every day.
When jobs exclude you, entrepreneurship becomes the alternative. Sometimes entrepreneurship is about passion. Other times, it’s strategy. When your diploma isn’t recognized. When your headscarf raises eyebrows. When your family needs don’t match a 9-to-5. Then building your own business becomes not just a dream, but a solution.
At #SheDIDIT, we support over 300 women each year across Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels in starting their own business. And 40% of them come from so-called “inactivity.” Translation? These women aren’t passive. They’re simply choosing their own way in. Through business coaching, community, and practical tools, they go from overlooked to unstoppable.
They don’t wait for permission. They create what they couldn’t find. Maybe it’s time to reframe “inactivity. These women are not inactive. They are unrecognized. Underestimated. Under-supported. And when they’re given the right tools, guidance, and space? They don’t just enter the labor market. They change it.
Learn how we as #SheDIDIT support women with migration backgrounds in building their own legacy through entrepreneurship.
💛 Written by Aimée Lobé, one of our business coaches