The employment in the sea and coastal freight water transport sector in Belgium exhibited notable fluctuations between 2013 and 2023. The period started with a high employment value in 2013, reaching 1.14, but saw a significant drop of -42.96% in 2014. The sector experienced varying growth rates, with a sharp rise in 2020 at 47.71% and a continued steady increase through to 2023. By 2023, employment stood at 1.15 thousand FTE, showing a positive year-on-year variation of 3.98% over 2022. The overall CAGR for these five years was 3.17%.

Future projections up to 2028 suggest a continued upward trend, with the sector reaching 1.36 thousand FTE by 2028, driven by a forecasted 5-year CAGR of 2.68% and an overall growth rate of 14.15%.

Future trends to watch for:

Impact of technological advancements in logistics and shipping efficiency.
Influence of environmental regulations on sector employment.
Global trade dynamics and their effect on Belgium's sea and coastal freight transport.