The legal labour market in Belgium: trends and salary developments for 2026

The Belgian legal labour market can be described as stable in 2025. Employers' needs remain largely unchanged, and we do not expect any major shifts in the most sought-after profiles in 2026 either. In the second quarter of the past year, we saw a clear peak in the number of vacancies. Brussels remains the centre of gravity of the market: 29% of all available legal positions are located in the Brussels-Capital Region, thanks to the concentration of international companies, institutions and financial organisations*.

Most sought-after profiles

The top three most sought-after legal profiles in 2025 are highly representative of the structural needs of organisations:  

1. Compliance Officer/Manager
2. (Corporate) Legal Counsel 
3. Contract Manager

Margaux De Vleeschauwer, consultant at recruitment specialist Robert Walters and specialising in legal profiles, explains: "This top three tells us a lot about the nature of the challenges companies are facing. The prominent role of compliance profiles shows how strongly regulation and risk management weigh on business operations. The continuing demand for legal counsels underlines the importance of internal legal support, with companies increasingly wanting to have their own expertise in-house to support strategic decisions, privacy issues and governance. The need for Contract Managers confirms that organisations are placing more focus on contractual certainty, operational efficiency and well-structured project management. Overall, this points to a market that remains strongly oriented towards compliance, internal stability and professional contract management – a trend that is expected to continue in 2026."

Sectors with highest demand

The sectoral distribution also remains stable. The greatest demand for legal expertise in 2025 came from:

• Banks and insurance 
• Retail 
• Consulting 
• Real estate 
• Construction
   

“These sectors are characterised by strict compliance requirements and complex contract structures, which means that specialised legal profiles remain indispensable,” Margaux notes. “It is precisely because of this ongoing complexity that we expect 2026 to offer great opportunities for legal professionals who want to deepen their knowledge or further specialise in areas such as compliance, contract management, data protection and risk.”

Diversity and retention

The gender distribution among legal profiles last year was 62% women versus 38% men. The average tenure is 1.8 years, confirming that the legal labour market remains relatively mobile.

Professionals easily switch to a new employer, which means it remains important for organisations to focus strongly on retention and development.

Stable market, rising salaries

“The legal job market in Belgium was clearly stable in 2025, and the most sought-after profiles will remain the same in 2026. Companies are focusing on compliance, internal legal reinforcement and professional contract management. Although demand for profiles fluctuates little, salaries continue to rise – especially for experienced professionals who are crucial for risk management and strategic decision-making," explains Margaux.

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