The strong growth in the Belgian cyber sector exposes the shortage of cybersecurity experts, according to figures from Agoria. Currently, 4,000 open vacancies remain unfilled.
The Belgian cybersecurity sector has grown strongly in recent years and expects to double its turnover by 2030. However, a structural shortage of talent threatens to undermine this growth, according to a sector analysis by the Belgian technology federation Agoria.
Turnover Continues to Rise
Between 2021 and 2024, the turnover of the Belgian cybersecurity sector increased by more than 65 percent, from 1.58 to 2.61 billion euros. Added value grew by over 50 percent in the same period, reaching 915 million euros. Employment also increased significantly: the number of full-time jobs in the sector rose by 52 percent in three years to 9,750.
This growth is expected to continue in the coming years. Agoria anticipates an average annual turnover increase of 15.9 percent. By 2030, the total turnover is expected to double again as a result. The sector currently comprises 732 companies and primarily provides services to telecom and IT companies (28%), banks and insurers (22%), and governments (11%). Export is also significant: more than a fifth of services are directed abroad.
4,000 Vacancies
The rapid growth exposes the pain points in the sector. There are currently 4,000 open vacancies for cybersecurity specialists, with a vacancy rate of 12.4 percent. This is significantly higher than in the broader IT sector (5.3%) and the general economy (3.9%). Despite the rise of training programs, only a limited number of graduates enter the workforce annually.
“However, the few hundred graduates per year are insufficient to close the gap. We urgently need more collaboration with colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. Cyber knowledge must be embedded much earlier in educational programs, not just digital skills,” states Saskia van Uffelen, Manager Future Workforce at Agoria.
Vulnerable Companies
At the same time, many Belgian companies remain vulnerable. Small businesses still invest insufficiently in security. The NIS2 regulation should boost corporate cybersecurity, but even there, SMEs lag behind. In 2025, the number of cyberattacks in Belgium increased by 165 percent to an average of 275 per day. In 2024, a quarter of Belgian companies were affected.
read also
Belgian Cyber Sector to Double by 2030: 4,000 Experts Needed
To address this vulnerability, Agoria, together with its cyber network “Cyber Made in Belgium”, developed various free tools and training courses, including cyberstart.be and the Cyber Risk Scan. The organization calls on policymakers for more targeted support measures, collaboration, and investments in education.