SD Worx: ‘Belgians not prepared to commute more than 30 minutes’

In the run-up to International Mobility Week (from 16 to 22 September), SD Worx analyzed regional differences in commuting. The main conclusion? Belgians are European commuting champions and the most geographically mobile employees in Europe. However, the mental limit has been reached.

On average, Brussels residents live closest to work. Still, they spend an hour on their daily commute. They travel an average of 23 kilometers from home to work, which takes them 57 minutes.

About one-quarter (27%) of Brussels employees can work from home one, two, or three days a week. Teleworking is most common for residents of Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Brussels, and East Flanders. We see the least amount of homeworking among those who live in West Flanders and Antwerp. Most people go to work on Tuesday and Thursday, which is why they are peak days for traffic jams.

Mental limit

The mental limit for commuting is around one hour per day or 30 minutes per trip. West Flemish people and residents of Flemish Brabant are the most satisfied, while Limburgers are the most dissatisfied—at least one in three employees experiences commuting as a waste of time.

West Flemish residents spend most of their time commuting, but they are the quickest to get home from work. More than nine in ten West Flemish people work in their own province. Telework is not very popular among West Flemish employees: seven out of ten never work from home.

Willing to travel

Limburgers are the least satisfied with their travel time. Yet, they are most willing to travel for work. For example, residents in Limburg are prepared to drive 61 kilometers there and back. Almost four in ten (37%) commute more than an hour.

Those living in Antwerp and West Flanders cover an average of 32 or 38 km, respectively, and spend 56 and 53 minutes. Seven in ten West Flemish people are satisfied with their travel time; in Antwerp, 65% are satisfied.

Longest average commute

East Flanders residents have the longest average commute to work: 60 minutes there and back. This province has the most commuters who travel longer than an hour and a half: 24%. Four in ten take longer than an hour a day.

“In all Flemish regions, employees are willing to cover more kilometers but not spend more time on the road. The mental limit has been reached,” concludes Kathleen Jacobs, HR and legal advisor at SD Worx.