New figures show that the number of support programs completed has dropped by 70%, while 23 career centers have already been forced to close. “Demir’s interventions are creating chaos and uncertainty, both for the career centers and for the users. Demir is single-handedly destroying the career voucher system,” says Platteau.
In March 2025, Minister Demir introduced a maximum of 1,000 career vouchers per month. According to VDAB communications, this has caused a rush every month since then, with vouchers selling out within minutes. But the figures tell a different story. The maximum was only reached in May. In March, only 873 vouchers were sold, and in June, only 530. The number of actually completed career guidance programs plummeted from 3,078 in February to a mere 949 in June. Platteau: “Demir’s wild and ill-considered policy has ruined the career guidance voucher system. This is disastrous for our labor market. More people will remain stuck in jobs, while the labor market needs more job mobility.”
Eva Platteau
Entrepreneurs in the sector are paying the price for the chaotic policy. Of the 23 career centers that had to close, 16 are sole proprietorships. Ironically, Minister Demir wants to target the larger career centers, which she labels “inefficient intermediaries.” Her policy is therefore counterproductive. “The Flemish government is making things incredibly difficult for entrepreneurs. In one year, the rules for entrepreneurs active in the career guidance sector have been changed three times. This creates chaos and uncertainty,” says Platteau.
User confidence in the system also took a hit: the number of people who didn’t use their requested checks and had them refunded rose by 72% compared to last year. “Demir’s condescending communication about career checks and the closure of the career centers has clearly had a major impact. It’s a real shame, because people do want to plan their careers, gain insight into interesting training programs, and find new meaning in work. Our labor market demands this too, but apparently the Flemish government is choosing to thwart it.”
