Where workers used to have to fight for a job, companies are now fighting for an employee, so says the witticism. In this keynote, Professor Baert objectifies this fierce war for talent. Proving that it is effectively raging more fiercely now than in the past and more with us than elsewhere, he warns that we are in danger of going from a record number of vacancies to a record number of missed opportunities. Afterwards, he analyses two underlying problems: the puzzle between available jobseekers and vacancies does not fit and the pond employers have to fish from is too small because of the high inactivity in our country. Professor Baert concluded with some solutions aimed at both policymakers and companies.

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The keynote particularly appeals to an audience of enterprising, working and thrifty Flemings interested in politics and/or economics. Professor Baert touches on striking figures, but tries to keep his keynote accessible and entertaining at the same time. It is possible to tailor this keynote to the wishes of the audience.