Our 2025 Brussels Salary Survey for Public Affairs and Government Relations is Now Live!
At Hanson Search, we specialise in recruiting business-critical talent in public affairs, government relations, and strategic communications. Our 2025 Brussels Salary Survey offers in-depth insights into salary benchmarks, hiring trends, and the evolving public affairs landscape – drawn from live market data and informed by our work across agencies, in-house teams, and trade associations.
2024 was a year of political and economic hesitation. The wider geopolitical context – including instability at Europe’s borders, tensions around global security, and fragmented policymaking – significantly impacted the speed of decision-making across Brussels. In parallel, the EU institutional transition slowed hiring activity, as many organisations waited for clarity from the incoming European Commission and Parliament before investing in new talent.
Now, as we enter 2025, the Brussels public affairs market is beginning to regain momentum. With a clearer regulatory and political outlook, organisations are scaling their teams and looking for skilled professionals who can influence public policy, build coalitions, and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
Key Talent Trends in Brussels Public Affairs for 2025:
- Hiring is rebounding, with renewed urgency across EU public affairs, regulatory affairs, government relations, and public policy roles.
- Organisations are prioritising roles that combine deep policy expertise with strategic communications and stakeholder engagement skills.
- There is growing demand for talent in areas such as sustainability policy, digital regulation, and climate and energy affairs – where public policy is evolving rapidly.
- DEI remains on the agenda, with employers seeking to build diverse and representative public affairs teams.
- Interim and freelance hiring is also gaining traction – offering flexibility and specialist expertise as teams evolve to meet new policy priorities.
A Note from Our Founder, Alice Weightman: Building Influence Through Talent
This year’s Brussels salary guide explores not just pay but what matters most to public affairs professionals – from career drivers and flexible working to the value of mission-led work. We draw on our deep experience working with public affairs consultancies, corporate in-house teams, and trade bodies to help organisations hire leaders who shape public policy and drive meaningful impact in the EU space.
Whether you are looking to strengthen your government relations team, grow your EU public affairs presence, or hire interim experts during a period of transition, Hanson Search is here to support you.
We also cover the Benelux region, and recruit for public affairs and government relations roles internationally – including in the UK, Germany, the Middle East, and the US.
enquiries@hansonsearch.com