The employment in the textiles, wearing apparel, and leather products sector in Belgium has observed significant fluctuations over the past decade. From 2013 to 2023, the sector experienced a general decline in employment, with occasional periods of moderate growth, such as in 2015 and 2021. The year 2020 marked a significant drop due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the sector rebounded in 2021 and has shown slight growth since then.
Presently, in 2023, the sector stands at 31.63 million hours of employment. However, the overall trend from 2013 to 2023 shows a year-on-year percentage generally declining, with a few exceptions. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the last five years is -1.2%, indicating a gradual decline in employment.
Forecasts from 2024 to 2028 predict a slight continuous decrease in employment hours, with a forecasted 5-year CAGR of -0.22% and a 5-year growth rate of -1.1%, suggesting a stabilizing yet slightly downward trend for the industry.
Future trends to watch for:
- Technological advancements and automation that may impact employment levels.
- Environmental and sustainability regulations affecting production processes.
- Potential for reshoring or nearshoring post-pandemic as companies reevaluate supply chains.
- Evolving consumer preferences towards sustainable and locally-made products.
