The employment in the Food and Beverage Service Activities sector in Belgium has seen varied trends over the past years. From a steady growth from 2013 to 2019, peaking at 71.98 thousand FTEs in 2019, the sector faced a sharp decline of 44.78% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery commenced in 2021 with a significant rebound of 42.32%, followed by continued growth in 2022 and 2023, where employment stood at 78.44 thousand FTEs in 2023. The CAGR from 2019 to 2023 was at 3.34% demonstrating a resilient return to pre-pandemic levels.
Future employment projections suggest continued growth, with forecasts indicating a 2.5% CAGR over the next five years. Employment is expected to reach 91.82 thousand FTEs by 2028, signifying a 13.13% growth from 2023 levels.
Trends to watch for in the future include potential impacts of technological advancements in food services, ongoing shifts in consumer behavior post-pandemic, and government policies related to labor and business operations in this sector.
