Sarah Vansteenkiste
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PhD researcher on labour market forecasting KU Leuven in Belgium
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Education
Funding
Available
Deadline
Sep 14, 2026
Country
Belgium
University
KU Leuven

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About this position
KU Leuven is offering a 4-year PhD position at Steunpunt Werk, a policy-oriented research centre within the Faculty of Economics and Business. The project focuses on labour market forecasting with a strong emphasis on the supply side of the labour market, especially school leavers and workers. The research will contribute to skills forecasting for Flanders and help identify future labour demand and supply mismatches across sectors, occupations and competences.
The PhD researcher will develop forecasting models to estimate which occupations school leavers may enter, which skills they may bring, and how this aligns with future labour market demand. The project also explores how current workers can shape future labour supply through reskilling, upskilling, and career transitions. A central challenge is measuring and classifying skills and understanding how they evolve across different sectors, occupations and skill profiles.
This position is academically relevant to labour economics, the economics of education, policy evaluation, and quantitative forecasting. It is also strongly policy-oriented, with direct relevance for Flemish policymakers, public employment services, education and training providers, sectors, organisations and labour market intermediaries. The research is situated in a dynamic environment led by Prof. dr. Sarah Vansteenkiste, with supervision by Prof. dr. Sarah Vansteenkiste and Prof. dr. Kristof De Witte.
Eligibility highlights: applicants must hold a relevant Master’s degree and have achieved at least cum laude or a distinction. Strong quantitative, statistical and econometric skills are expected, together with experience using statistical software. Fluency in Dutch is required, and English proficiency is also necessary. An advanced research Master’s in (applied) economics is an advantage but not essential. Candidates must enrol in the PhD programme in (Applied) Economics at KU Leuven.
Funding: the post offers a competitive full-time PhD scholarship for 4 years, subject to a positive evaluation after the first year. Additional benefits include health insurance, reduced public transport prices, free bicycle use, access to university sports facilities, and training opportunities.
Application: apply via the official KU Leuven online system only; email applications are not considered. The stated deadline is 2026-09-14. Start date is as soon as possible.
Funding details
Available
What's required
Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field and have achieved at least cum laude or a distinction. An advanced research Master’s in (applied) economics is an advantage but not mandatory. Candidates should have strong statistical, econometric and quantitative data analysis skills, experience with statistical software packages, enthusiasm for research, excellent academic writing skills, high integrity, and the ability to work both independently and in a team. Fluency in Dutch is required, as well as proficiency in English. Successful candidates must enrol in the PhD programme in (Applied) Economics at KU Leuven.
How to apply
Apply through the official KU Leuven online system. Do not apply by email. For questions about the project, contact Prof. dr. Sarah Vansteenkiste or Prof. dr. Kristof De Witte.
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