While civil engineering projects drive the Belgian construction industry forward, the residential sector faces a significant downturn, yet together they form a resilient €78.4 billion market poised for steady growth.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the Belgian construction sector's total value added stood at €28.4 billion, representing 5.8% of the national GDP
- The construction industry's output grew by 1.8% year-on-year in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022, driven by civil engineering works
- Belgium's construction market size was valued at €54.2 billion in 2022, with projections to reach €60.1 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 2.1%
- The construction workforce in Belgium totaled 248,500 employees in Q4 2023, up 1.2% from Q4 2022
- Average gross hourly wage in construction was €28.45 in 2023, 12% above national average
- Unemployment rate in construction sector was 4.8% in 2023, below national 5.6%
- Number of new residential dwellings started: 32,450 in 2023, down 10.2% from 2022
- Average surface area of new residential permits: 120 m² in 2023
- Housing completion rate: 28,900 units finished in 2023
- Non-residential building permits floor area: 4.2 million m² in 2023
- Office construction completions: 285,000 m² in Brussels 2023, vacancy rate 9.2%
- Retail space new builds: 150,000 m² added nationwide in 2023
- Road infrastructure investment: €2.1 billion in 2023, including 150 km new highways
- Rail network expansions: 45 km high-speed lines completed in 2023, €1.3 billion cost
- Renewable energy plants in construction: 2.5 GW capacity under build in 2023
Belgium's construction industry grew modestly in 2023 despite a significant downturn in new housing.
Employment and Workforce
1The construction workforce in Belgium totaled 248,500 employees in Q4 2023, up 1.2% from Q4 2022
Verified2Average gross hourly wage in construction was €28.45 in 2023, 12% above national average
Verified3Unemployment rate in construction sector was 4.8% in 2023, below national 5.6%
Verified472% of construction workers were male in 2023, with female employment at 28%
Directional5Total self-employed in construction numbered 62,400 in 2023, representing 25% of workforce
Single source6Labor shortages affected 45% of construction firms in 2023 survey
Verified7Average age of construction workers was 44.2 years in 2022, with 18% over 55
Verified8Part-time employment in construction was 8.5% of total jobs in 2023
Verified9Number of apprentices in construction reached 12,300 in 2023, up 5% YoY
Directional10Construction employment growth forecast at 1.5% annually to 2028, adding 15,000 jobs
Single source1115.2% of workforce had higher education qualifications in 2022
Verified12Overtime hours averaged 4.2 hours per week per worker in construction 2023
Verified13Foreign workers comprised 22.4% of construction employment in 2023, mainly from EU neighbors
Verified14Absenteeism rate due to illness was 6.8% in construction, above national 5.2% in 2023
Directional15Youth employment (15-24) in construction was 9.1% of total in 2023
Single source16Wage indexation led to 11.8% increase in construction wages over 2022-2023
Verified173,200 new construction jobs created in Brussels region in 2023
Verified18Skilled tradespeople shortage index at 67/100 for electricians in construction 2023
Verified19Average contract duration for construction workers was 18.4 months in 2022
Directional20Women in management roles in construction firms: 14.3% in 2023
Single source21Temporary agency workers in construction: 28,500 or 11.5% of workforce in 2023
Verified22Training participation rate: 42% of workers received vocational training in 2022
Verified23Employment in Wallonia construction: 85,400 full-time equivalents in Q3 2023
Verified24Flanders construction employment: 142,100 in 2023, 57% of national total
Directional25Job vacancy rate in construction: 3.2% or 8,100 unfilled posts in 2023
Single source26Labor cost index for construction rose 5.9% YoY in Q4 2023
VerifiedEmployment and Workforce Interpretation
Belgium's construction industry stands as a resilient but creaky scaffold of economic growth, propped up by well-paid yet aging, predominantly male workers who are increasingly scarce, all while the sector desperately tries to plaster over its cracks with apprentices, foreign labor, and a stubborn gender gap.
Infrastructure and Sustainability
1Road infrastructure investment: €2.1 billion in 2023, including 150 km new highways
Verified2Rail network expansions: 45 km high-speed lines completed in 2023, €1.3 billion cost
Verified3Renewable energy plants in construction: 2.5 GW capacity under build in 2023
Verified4Waterway maintenance dredging: 12 million m³ volume in 2023, €180 million
Directional5Public transport hubs renovated: 28 stations with €420 million in 2023
Single source6Wind farm onshore additions: 450 MW commissioned 2023
Verified7Carbon emissions from construction: down 12% to 4.2 MtCO2e in 2023
Verified8Green public procurement in infra: 72% of projects certified sustainable 2023
Verified9Airport expansions: Brussels Zaventem new terminal phase €900 million 2023
Directional10Flood protection works: 320 km dikes reinforced post-2021, €650 million 2023
Single source11EV charging stations built: 8,500 new points on highways 2023
Verified12BIM adoption in public infra projects: 88% in 2023 tenders
Verified13Offshore wind grid connections: 1.2 GW linked in 2023
Verified14Urban bike lane additions: 450 km nationwide in 2023, €120 million
Directional15Waste recycling rate in construction: 92% by weight in 2023
Single source16Solar PV on public buildings: 150 MW installed 2023
Verified17Port infrastructure investments: Antwerp-Bruges €1.2 billion in quay walls 2023
Verified18Digital twin implementations in infra: 15 major projects using 2023
Verified19Low-emission zones infra retrofits: €85 million in urban areas 2023
DirectionalInfrastructure and Sustainability Interpretation
Belgium is conducting a symphony of infrastructure, laying down roads and rails with one hand while deftly weaving in bike lanes, wind farms, and digital twins with the other, proving that building big doesn't mean you can't also build green and smart.
Market Size and Growth
1In 2023, the Belgian construction sector's total value added stood at €28.4 billion, representing 5.8% of the national GDP
Verified2The construction industry's output grew by 1.8% year-on-year in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022, driven by civil engineering works
Verified3Belgium's construction market size was valued at €54.2 billion in 2022, with projections to reach €60.1 billion by 2027 at a CAGR of 2.1%
Verified4Building permits issued for new constructions increased by 4.2% in 2023, totaling 45,670 units nationwide
Directional5The sector's gross value added per employee averaged €112,500 in 2022, up 3% from the previous year
Single source6Construction production index rose to 105.3 points in December 2023 (2015=100)
Verified7Total investments in construction reached €32.7 billion in 2023, including €18.9 billion in buildings and €13.8 billion in civil engineering
Verified8The market contraction in new residential construction was 12.5% in volume terms during 2023
Verified9Overall construction turnover grew 2.7% to €78.4 billion in 2022, per the latest Nace Rev.2 data
Directional10Forecasted average annual growth rate for Belgian construction is 1.9% from 2024-2028
Single source11Nominal growth in construction output was 4.1% in 2023, outpacing inflation by 1.3 percentage points
Verified12The sector's contribution to employment was 6.1% of total national employment in 2023
Verified13Construction GVA increased by €1.2 billion nominally in 2023, reaching €29.6 billion
Verified14Real growth in building construction was -0.8% in 2023, while civil engineering grew 3.2%
Directional15Total construction orders outstanding rose 5.3% to €45.1 billion by end-2023
Single source16The industry's productivity index stood at 112.4 (2010=100) in 2022
Verified17Construction market volume declined 1.2% in 2023 but is expected to rebound 2.4% in 2024
Verified18Turnover per construction firm averaged €4.2 million in 2022, with 14,200 active enterprises
Verified19Capital expenditure in construction totaled €2.8 billion in 2023, focused on machinery and equipment
Directional20The sector's export turnover in construction services reached €1.9 billion in 2022
Single source21Nominal construction investment as % of GDP was 9.8% in 2023
Verified22Growth in non-residential building construction was 2.9% in real terms during 2023
Verified23Total sector revenue forecast for 2024 is €82.5 billion, up 3.2% from 2023
Verified24Construction deflation adjusted for input prices was -1.5% in Q3 2023
Directional25Number of construction bankruptcies fell 8.7% to 1,245 in 2023
Single source26Sector's intermediate consumption rose to €49.2 billion in 2022, up 6.4%
Verified27Projected CAGR for construction market 2023-2027 is 2.5%, reaching €62.8 billion
Verified28Construction output gap closed to -0.5% of potential in 2023
Verified29Total fixed assets in construction firms totaled €38.7 billion in 2022
Directional30Year-on-year construction PMI averaged 48.2 in 2023, indicating contraction
Single sourceMarket Size and Growth Interpretation
While still the country's 5.8% GDP backbone, Belgium's construction sector is having a solid, albeit slightly lopsided, year, growing like a carefully engineered bridge on the civil side while the residential housing market is currently under renovation.
Non-Residential Construction
1Non-residential building permits floor area: 4.2 million m² in 2023
Verified2Office construction completions: 285,000 m² in Brussels 2023, vacancy rate 9.2%
Verified3Retail space new builds: 150,000 m² added nationwide in 2023
Verified4Industrial warehouse permits: 850,000 m² approved in Flanders 2023
Directional5Hotel construction investment: €420 million in 2023 projects
Single source6Educational buildings renovated: 1.2 million m² in 2023, €1.8 billion spent
Verified7Healthcare facilities new floor area: 320,000 m² permitted in 2023
Verified8Non-residential output growth: 3.1% in volume terms 2023
Verified9Logistics parks developed: 12 new projects totaling 650,000 m² in 2023
Directional10Office vacancy rate nationally: 7.8% in prime markets 2023
Single source11Non-residential investment: €9.8 billion in 2023, led by industry at 42%
Verified12Data center construction boom: 120 MW capacity added in 2023
Verified13Sports facilities built: 45 new venues with €250 million investment 2023
Verified14Commercial property permits value: €3.4 billion in 2023
Directional15Factory expansions: 28 projects adding 450,000 m² industrial space 2023
Single source16Non-residential energy retrofits: 2.1 million m² upgraded to low-energy in 2023
Verified17Brussels office completions: 180,000 m², take-up 1.1 million m² in 2023
Verified18Wallonia non-residential starts down 2% to 1.8 million m² 2023
Verified19Sustainable certification (BREEAM/LEED) for 65% new non-res projects 2023
Directional20Hotel room additions: 1,850 new rooms in 2023
Single source21Total non-res floor area permitted: 5.1 million m², offices 32%, industry 41% 2023
Verified22Retail rental growth: 2.8% in prime locations 2023
VerifiedNon-Residential Construction Interpretation
Belgium’s construction sector is confidently building the future, though it appears to be putting its money where its boxes are, given the booming industrial and logistics projects contrasting with stubborn office vacancies and a thoughtful, sustainable overhaul of everything else.
Residential Construction
1Number of new residential dwellings started: 32,450 in 2023, down 10.2% from 2022
Verified2Average surface area of new residential permits: 120 m² in 2023
Verified3Housing completion rate: 28,900 units finished in 2023
Verified4Residential construction investment: €14.2 billion in 2023, 43% of total building investment
Directional5Apartment permits as % of total residential: 52% in urban areas like Brussels in 2023
Single source6Energy-efficient new homes (EPB A/B rating): 68% of completions in 2023
Verified7Renovation permits for residential buildings: 156,000 issued in 2023, up 7%
Verified8Average cost per m² for new residential construction: €2,450 in Flanders 2023
Verified9Social housing starts: 4,200 units in 2023, focusing on affordable segment
Directional10Vacant dwellings rate in residential stock: 2.8% or 140,000 units in 2023 census
Single source11Single-family home permits: 15,600 in 2023, down 15% YoY
Verified12Residential output volume decline: 8.4% in 2023, worst since 2012
Verified13Brussels residential permits: 5,200 units, 85% apartments in 2023
Verified14Wallonia new homes price index up 6.2% to €198,000 average in 2023
Directional15Renovation expenditure in residential: €8.7 billion in 2023
Single source16Zero-energy residential buildings certified: 2,450 in 2023
Verified17Flanders residential land prices averaged €285/m² in 2023
Verified18Oversupply of residential stock: 18 months inventory in Q4 2023
Verified19Multi-family residential starts: 16,850 units in 2023
Directional20Residential construction firms: 7,850 active, generating €12.9 billion turnover 2022
Single source21Permit approval time for residential: average 112 days in 2023
Verified22New residential completions per 1,000 inhabitants: 2.6 in Belgium 2023
Verified23Share of wooden frame residential new builds: 12% in 2023, up from 8% in 2020
VerifiedResidential Construction Interpretation
While Belgium's housing market is energetically renovating its past and efficiently building greener, denser apartments, its current pace feels less like a bold new construction and more like a cautious renovation of ambition itself.
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