Temporary employees by duration of the employment contract in Belgium
Belgium: Temporary employees by duration of the employment contract was 493.6 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
493.6 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 14.7%
World rank
15th
of 45 countries
All-time high
493.6 Thousand persons
in 2025
All-time low
148.2 Thousand persons
in 1989
Years of data
43
1983–2025
Temporary employees by duration of the employment contract in Belgium, 1983–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, temporary employees by duration of the employment contract in Belgium stood at 493.6 Thousand persons. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 14.7% on the previous year and up 41.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, temporary employees by duration of the employment contract in Belgium peaked at 493.6 Thousand persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 148.2 Thousand persons, in 1989.
Belgium ranks 15th of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Temporary employees by duration of the employment contract in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 150 Thousand persons | — |
| 1984 | 160 Thousand persons | +6.7% |
| 1985 | 193.6 Thousand persons | +21.0% |
| 1986 | 203.2 Thousand persons | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 157.3 Thousand persons | -22.6% |
| 1988 | 154.8 Thousand persons | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 148.2 Thousand persons | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 155.9 Thousand persons | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 156.3 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 152.5 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 156.3 Thousand persons | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 158 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 165.1 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 1996 | 183.5 Thousand persons | +11.1% |
| 1997 | 199.1 Thousand persons | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 247.9 Thousand persons | +24.5% |
| 1999 | 339 Thousand persons | +36.7% |
| 2000 | 311 Thousand persons | -8.3% |
| 2001 | 301.3 Thousand persons | -3.1% |
| 2002 | 261.2 Thousand persons | -13.3% |
| 2003 | 294.1 Thousand persons | +12.6% |
| 2004 | 306.9 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 318.1 Thousand persons | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 315.7 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 322.7 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 315.4 Thousand persons | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 309.9 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 311.8 Thousand persons | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 344.7 Thousand persons | +10.6% |
| 2012 | 315.4 Thousand persons | -8.5% |
| 2013 | 314.7 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 335.5 Thousand persons | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 348.2 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 358.1 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 414.5 Thousand persons | +15.7% |
| 2018 | 439.7 Thousand persons | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 452.3 Thousand persons | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 418.4 Thousand persons | -7.5% |
| 2021 | 432.3 Thousand persons | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 414.9 Thousand persons | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 407 Thousand persons | -1.9% |
| 2024 | 430.2 Thousand persons | +5.7% |
| 2025 | 493.6 Thousand persons | +14.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 166.73 Thousand persons | 148.2 Thousand persons | 203.2 Thousand persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 191.36 Thousand persons | 152.5 Thousand persons | 339 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 305.63 Thousand persons | 261.2 Thousand persons | 322.7 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 363.49 Thousand persons | 311.8 Thousand persons | 452.3 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 432.73 Thousand persons | 407 Thousand persons | 493.6 Thousand persons | 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 temporary employees by duration of the employment contract in Belgium?
- Temporary employees by duration of the employment contract in Belgium was 493.6 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest temporary employees by duration of the employment contract recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 493.6 Thousand persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest temporary employees by duration of the employment contract recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 148.2 Thousand persons in 1989.
- How does Belgium rank for temporary employees by duration of the employment contract?
- Belgium ranks 15th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is temporary employees by duration of the employment contract rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Temporary employees by duration of the employment contract. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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