Measuring Belgian municipalities'attraction regarding demographic dynamics and labor market in 2021

This research aims to analyse Belgian municipalities based on two dynamics : their ability to attract new residents and their ability to attract new workers to their territory.

Demographic dynamics are computed using the origin-destination matrix for intermunicipal moves in 2020 and 2021. The net increase in new residents in each municipality is put into perspective compared to the total number of residents in the municipality in 2020. The labor market attraction of each municipality is calculated on the basis of the origin-destination matrix for daily job-related movement in 2021 drawn up by the National Office for Social Security (ONSS). Therefore, it mainly concerns salaried jobs. The number of movements to a municipality for work is put into perspective in relation to the total number of movements in Belgium.

The two sets of data obtained this way have resulted in 9 categories of municipality according to the intensity of these two dynamics. This classification enables cross-referencing with other variables and typologies, and an analysis of the geography of these dynamics.