The employment in the rubber products manufacturing sector in Belgium has shown a declining trend from 2013 to 2023. The value stood at 2.04 thousand FTEs in 2013 and has consistently decreased to 1.09 thousand FTEs in 2023, representing a 9.1% year-on-year decrease. Over the last five years, the sector experienced an average annual decline (CAGR) of 7.93%. This downtrend continued into the forecast period, with the employment expected to drop further to 0.559 thousand FTEs by 2028, projecting a steeper five-year CAGR of -10.62%.

Future trends to watch for in the rubber products manufacturing sector include:

Increased automation and adoption of smart manufacturing technologies to drive efficiency.
Potential consolidation within the industry as companies seek to mitigate declining employment rates.
Efforts towards sustainability and recyclability in rubber products influencing employment dynamics.
Shifts in global supply chains and potential impacts of trade regulations on the sector.