Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Belgium
Belgium: Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) was 29.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Belgium, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Belgium is 29.2%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and down 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Belgium peaked at 40.0% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 29.2%, in 2025.
That places Belgium 60th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.0% | — |
| 1992 | 39.9% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 39.6% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 38.6% | -2.4% |
| 1995 | 38.1% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 37.3% | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 37.4% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 37.4% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 36.2% | -3.0% |
| 2000 | 36.2% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 35.4% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 35.6% | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 34.9% | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 35.7% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 35.0% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 35.6% | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 35.0% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 36.3% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 34.7% | -4.2% |
| 2010 | 34.3% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 34.5% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 32.7% | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 32.8% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 32.7% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 32.8% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 32.5% | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 31.9% | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 32.3% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 32.5% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 31.1% | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 29.8% | -4.1% |
| 2022 | 31.0% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 30.6% | -1.2% |
| 2024 | 29.5% | -3.7% |
| 2025 | 29.2% | -1.2% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 29.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.1%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 29.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 32.1%, 91% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 38.3% | 36.2% | 40.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 35.5% | 34.7% | 36.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.9% | 31.9% | 34.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.2% | 29.2% | 31.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More work & labour data for Belgium
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.1652 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.1676 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.1614 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.1395 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 12,349 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 139 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,498 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,563 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 11,061 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Belgium?
- Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) in Belgium was 29.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, male (% of male employment) recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, male (% of male employment) recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.2% in 2025.
- How does Belgium rank for employment in industry, male (% of male employment)?
- Belgium ranks 60th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, male (% of male employment) rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in industry, male (% of male employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).