From 2013 to 2023, the number of employees in the Belgian meat processing sector has experienced fluctuations. The sector started with a downward trend, notably a significant decline in 2014 by 5.93%. An upward shift occurred in 2015, with an 8.18% increase, followed by minor fluctuations. The largest rise was in 2019 with a 10.8% growth. The latest data for 2023 shows a 0.36% increase, standing at 14.93 thousand employees. Over the past five years, the sector has seen an average annual growth (CAGR) of 1.55%.
Looking ahead, forecasts predict steady growth in the sector with a five-year CAGR of 0.27%, leading to a 1.37% total increase by 2028.
Future trends to watch for include technological advancements in automation, shifts in consumer preferences towards alternative protein sources, and potential regulatory changes impacting labor and production standards in the meat processing industry.
