Over the past decade, the number of self-employed people in the IT services sector in Belgium has shown consistent growth, rising from 8.4 thousand units in 2013 to 14.3 thousand units in 2023. This represents a cumulative increase of nearly 70%. The annual year-on-year growth has varied, with higher growth rates in 2018 and 2021 at over 6%, and more moderate increases in recent years, such as 3.01% in 2022 and 4.38% in 2023. Notably, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last five years stood at 4.82%.
Looking forward to the forecasted data from 2024 to 2028, the self-employed IT services sector in Belgium is expected to continue growing but at a slower pace. The forecasted CAGR for the next five years is 2.81%, reflecting a deceleration in growth. By 2028, the number of self-employed individuals in this sector is projected to reach 17.0 thousand units, representing a 14.86% increase from 2023.
Future trends to watch for include:
- Impact of technological advancements and automation on the demand for self-employed IT services.
- Shifts in global and local economic conditions affecting freelance and contractual work preferences.
- Potential regulatory changes impacting the gig economy and self-employment in the IT sector.
