Deploying students as a flexible workforce: a smart way to respond to staff shortages in Flanders
You undoubtedly recognise the situation: just when workload increases, an employee calls in sick. Or your permanent team has been operating at full capacity for weeks, and hiring additional staff is financially challenging. In a tight Flemish labour market, finding staff who are quickly available, reliable, and affordable is no easy task.
That is why more and more employers are choosing a strategic solution: deploying students as a flexible workforce. Student workers offer scalability, cost control, and agility. Exactly when your organisation needs it most.
In this article, you will discover how student workers can help solve staff shortages, why flexible staffing in Flanders is indispensable, and how Recruit a Student takes care of the entire process for you.
In this blog
Table of contents:
- Why flexible staff is essential today
- Hiring students as a strategic choice
- When should you deploy student workers?
- Peak periods
- Unexpected absences
- Project-based support
- Structural buffer
- Recruiting students through a staffing agency: what are the benefits?
- Practical example (fictional case)
- What does it cost to hire student workers?
- How do you get started with Recruit a Student?
- Frequently asked questions
- Why choose Recruit a Student?
1. Why flexible staff is essential today
The Flemish labour market remains structurally tight. Vacancies are difficult to fill and permanent staff are scarce.
At the same time, companies are faced with:
- Seasonal peaks
- Unexpected sick leave
- Project-based additional workload
- Structural understaffing
A permanent hire is not always the most cost-effective solution. This is where flexible staffing in Flanders makes the difference.
Student workers offer you:
- Quick availability
- Lower social security contributions
- Flexibility in scheduling
- Motivated support
This way, you create a flexible layer around your permanent team.
2. Hiring students as a strategic choice
Student workers are often seen as temporary support. However, those who deploy students strategically discover their long-term added value.
They can:
- Relieve your permanent team
- Ensure continuity during absences
- Provide support for specific projects
- Bring fresh energy and digital skills
Moreover, you build a talent pipeline. Motivated students often move into permanent roles after completing their studies.
3. When should you deploy student workers?
4. Recruiting students through a staffing agency: what are the benefits?
Recruiting students yourself takes time and administrative effort. By hiring students through a staffing agency such as Recruit a Student, you choose certainty.
- Fast matching: We have an extensive network of students across Flanders and Brussels.
- Administrative relief: Contracts, payroll processing, and social documents: we take care of everything.
- Quality guarantee: We pre-screen candidates. Not satisfied? We will find a replacement.
- Regional expertise: We know the Flemish labour market and understand where suitable profiles are available.
5. Practical example (fictional case)
A mid-sized clothing chain in Antwerp faced staff shortages every year during the end-of-year period. Hiring additional permanent employees for just a few months was not financially viable.
Within five days, Recruit a Student provided twelve student workers, spread across four branches. After a short training, they were deployed on the shop floor and in the stockroom.
Result:
- Fewer overtime hours for permanent staff
- Higher customer satisfaction
- Record sales
- Three students continued working as weekend staff
A flexible workforce made the difference here.
6. What does it cost to hire student workers?
A frequently asked question is: what does a student worker cost?
The cost depends on:
- The position
- The number of hours
- The duration of the assignment
- Sector wage scales
What you should know: student workers benefit from a favourable social status. As an employer, you pay lower social security contributions compared to hiring a permanent employee.
In addition, when working through a staffing agency, you only pay for the hours actually worked. No hidden costs, no long-term obligations.
Would you like a concrete cost estimate tailored to your company? We would be happy to provide a transparent proposal.
7. How do you get started with Recruit a Student?
Working together is simple:
Step 1: Intake
You share your staffing needs and planning.
Step 2: Matching
We select suitable candidates.
Step 3: Deployment
The students start working at your company. We remain available for follow-up and support.
Step 4: Evaluation
Together, we review the collaboration and discuss any next steps. You have one point of contact and complete flexibility.
8. Frequently asked questions
Can I hire student workers during the academic year?
Yes, students are allowed to work throughout the year. However, there are limits on the number of hours they can work. We guide you through this.
What if a student is sick or absent?
We quickly provide a replacement so your operations can continue without disruption.
Can students be deployed in specialised roles?
Absolutely. Many students are studying technical fields, IT, or marketing and have relevant skills and competencies.
9. Why choose Recruit a Student?
Recruit a Student specialises in connecting Flemish and Brussels employers with motivated student workers.
Our strengths:
- Large network across Flanders and Brussels
- Fast start-up
- Full administrative support
- Personal guidance
- Quality guarantee
We understand your challenges and proactively think along with you.
Would you like to quickly and hassle-free hire student workers?
Recruit a Student takes care of everything, from recruitment to administration.
Request free, no-obligation advice today.