Belgium’s construction workforce reached 248,500 employees in Q4 2023, up 1.2% from Q4 2022. Wages averaged €28.45 per hour in 2023, about 12% above the national average, while the unemployment rate in the sector stayed at 4.8%. The figures also show a sector under pressure, with labor shortages reported by 45% of firms and construction output rising more slowly than investment totals.
Key Takeaways
- The construction workforce in Belgium totaled 248,500 employees in Q4 2023, up 1.2% from Q4 2022
- Road infrastructure investment: €2.1 billion in 2023, including 150 km new highways
- In 2023, the Belgian construction sector's total value added stood at €28.4 billion, representing 5.8% of the national GDP
- Non-residential building permits floor area: 4.2 million m² in 2023
- Number of new residential dwellings started: 32,450 in 2023, down 10.2% from 2022
Belgium’s construction sector remains steady, with most key indicators pointing to continued growth and demand.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Workforce26 stats
01
The construction workforce in Belgium totaled 248,500 employees in Q4 2023, up 1.2% from Q4 2022
02
Average gross hourly wage in construction was €28.45 in 2023, 12% above national average
03
Unemployment rate in construction sector was 4.8% in 2023, below national 5.6%
04
72% of construction workers were male in 2023, with female employment at 28%
05
Total self-employed in construction numbered 62,400 in 2023, representing 25% of workforce
06
Labor shortages affected 45% of construction firms in 2023 survey
07
Average age of construction workers was 44.2 years in 2022, with 18% over 55
08
Part-time employment in construction was 8.5% of total jobs in 2023
09
Number of apprentices in construction reached 12,300 in 2023, up 5% YoY
10
Construction employment growth forecast at 1.5% annually to 2028, adding 15,000 jobs
11
15.2% of workforce had higher education qualifications in 2022
12
Overtime hours averaged 4.2 hours per week per worker in construction 2023
13
Foreign workers comprised 22.4% of construction employment in 2023, mainly from EU neighbors
14
Absenteeism rate due to illness was 6.8% in construction, above national 5.2% in 2023
15
Youth employment (15-24) in construction was 9.1% of total in 2023
16
Wage indexation led to 11.8% increase in construction wages over 2022-2023
17
3,200 new construction jobs created in Brussels region in 2023
18
Skilled tradespeople shortage index at 67/100 for electricians in construction 2023
19
Average contract duration for construction workers was 18.4 months in 2022
20
Women in management roles in construction firms: 14.3% in 2023
21
Temporary agency workers in construction: 28,500 or 11.5% of workforce in 2023
22
Training participation rate: 42% of workers received vocational training in 2022
23
Employment in Wallonia construction: 85,400 full-time equivalents in Q3 2023
24
Flanders construction employment: 142,100 in 2023, 57% of national total
25
Job vacancy rate in construction: 3.2% or 8,100 unfilled posts in 2023
26
Labor cost index for construction rose 5.9% YoY in Q4 2023
Interpretation
Employment And Workforce Interpretation
In Belgium’s construction employment landscape, the workforce grew to 248,500 employees in Q4 2023 and unemployment stayed low at 4.8% in 2023, yet labor shortages hit 45% of firms, pointing to a widening mismatch between available workers and hiring demand.
02 · Category
Infrastructure And Sustainability19 stats
01
Road infrastructure investment: €2.1 billion in 2023, including 150 km new highways
02
Rail network expansions: 45 km high-speed lines completed in 2023, €1.3 billion cost
03
Renewable energy plants in construction: 2.5 GW capacity under build in 2023
04
Waterway maintenance dredging: 12 million m³ volume in 2023, €180 million
05
Public transport hubs renovated: 28 stations with €420 million in 2023
06
Wind farm onshore additions: 450 MW commissioned 2023
07
Carbon emissions from construction: down 12% to 4.2 MtCO2e in 2023
08
Green public procurement in infra: 72% of projects certified sustainable 2023
09
Airport expansions: Brussels Zaventem new terminal phase €900 million 2023
10
Flood protection works: 320 km dikes reinforced post-2021, €650 million 2023
11
EV charging stations built: 8,500 new points on highways 2023
12
BIM adoption in public infra projects: 88% in 2023 tenders
13
Offshore wind grid connections: 1.2 GW linked in 2023
14
Urban bike lane additions: 450 km nationwide in 2023, €120 million
15
Waste recycling rate in construction: 92% by weight in 2023
16
Solar PV on public buildings: 150 MW installed 2023
17
Port infrastructure investments: Antwerp-Bruges €1.2 billion in quay walls 2023
18
Digital twin implementations in infra: 15 major projects using 2023
19
Low-emission zones infra retrofits: €85 million in urban areas 2023
Interpretation
Infrastructure And Sustainability Interpretation
Belgium’s Infrastructure And Sustainability push is accelerating with €2.1 billion poured into road investment in 2023 alongside major rail upgrades and renewable buildouts, including 2.5 GW of renewable energy capacity under construction and 450 MW of onshore wind commissioned the same year.
03 · Category
Market Size And Growth30 stats
01
In 2023, the Belgian construction sector's total value added stood at €28.4 billion, representing 5.8% of the national GDP
02
The construction industry's output grew by 1.8% year-on-year in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022, driven by civil engineering works
03
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%
04
Building permits issued for new constructions increased by 4.2% in 2023, totaling 45,670 units nationwide
05
The sector's gross value added per employee averaged €112,500 in 2022, up 3% from the previous year
06
Construction production index rose to 105.3 points in December 2023 (2015=100)
07
Total investments in construction reached €32.7 billion in 2023, including €18.9 billion in buildings and €13.8 billion in civil engineering
08
The market contraction in new residential construction was 12.5% in volume terms during 2023
09
Overall construction turnover grew 2.7% to €78.4 billion in 2022, per the latest Nace Rev.2 data
10
Forecasted average annual growth rate for Belgian construction is 1.9% from 2024-2028
11
Nominal growth in construction output was 4.1% in 2023, outpacing inflation by 1.3 percentage points
12
The sector's contribution to employment was 6.1% of total national employment in 2023
13
Construction GVA increased by €1.2 billion nominally in 2023, reaching €29.6 billion
14
Real growth in building construction was -0.8% in 2023, while civil engineering grew 3.2%
15
Total construction orders outstanding rose 5.3% to €45.1 billion by end-2023
16
The industry's productivity index stood at 112.4 (2010=100) in 2022
17
Construction market volume declined 1.2% in 2023 but is expected to rebound 2.4% in 2024
18
Turnover per construction firm averaged €4.2 million in 2022, with 14,200 active enterprises
19
Capital expenditure in construction totaled €2.8 billion in 2023, focused on machinery and equipment
20
The sector's export turnover in construction services reached €1.9 billion in 2022
21
Nominal construction investment as % of GDP was 9.8% in 2023
22
Growth in non-residential building construction was 2.9% in real terms during 2023
23
Total sector revenue forecast for 2024 is €82.5 billion, up 3.2% from 2023
24
Construction deflation adjusted for input prices was -1.5% in Q3 2023
25
Number of construction bankruptcies fell 8.7% to 1,245 in 2023
26
Sector's intermediate consumption rose to €49.2 billion in 2022, up 6.4%
27
Projected CAGR for construction market 2023-2027 is 2.5%, reaching €62.8 billion
28
Construction output gap closed to -0.5% of potential in 2023
29
Total fixed assets in construction firms totaled €38.7 billion in 2022
30
Year-on-year construction PMI averaged 48.2 in 2023, indicating contraction
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
For Belgium’s construction industry, steady market expansion is visible as its value rises from €54.2 billion in 2022 toward a projected €60.1 billion by 2027 at a 2.1% CAGR, reinforced by building permits climbing 4.2% in 2023 to 45,670 units.
More related reading
04 · Category
Non Residential Construction22 stats
01
Non-residential building permits floor area: 4.2 million m² in 2023
02
Office construction completions: 285,000 m² in Brussels 2023, vacancy rate 9.2%
03
Retail space new builds: 150,000 m² added nationwide in 2023
04
Industrial warehouse permits: 850,000 m² approved in Flanders 2023
05
Hotel construction investment: €420 million in 2023 projects
06
Educational buildings renovated: 1.2 million m² in 2023, €1.8 billion spent
07
Healthcare facilities new floor area: 320,000 m² permitted in 2023
08
Non-residential output growth: 3.1% in volume terms 2023
09
Logistics parks developed: 12 new projects totaling 650,000 m² in 2023
10
Office vacancy rate nationally: 7.8% in prime markets 2023
11
Non-residential investment: €9.8 billion in 2023, led by industry at 42%
12
Data center construction boom: 120 MW capacity added in 2023
13
Sports facilities built: 45 new venues with €250 million investment 2023
14
Commercial property permits value: €3.4 billion in 2023
15
Factory expansions: 28 projects adding 450,000 m² industrial space 2023
16
Non-residential energy retrofits: 2.1 million m² upgraded to low-energy in 2023
17
Brussels office completions: 180,000 m², take-up 1.1 million m² in 2023
18
Wallonia non-residential starts down 2% to 1.8 million m² 2023
19
Sustainable certification (BREEAM/LEED) for 65% new non-res projects 2023
20
Hotel room additions: 1,850 new rooms in 2023
21
Total non-res floor area permitted: 5.1 million m², offices 32%, industry 41% 2023
22
Retail rental growth: 2.8% in prime locations 2023
Interpretation
Non Residential Construction Interpretation
Non-residential construction in Belgium showed strong momentum in 2023, with 4.2 million m² of non-residential building permit floor area alongside major sector activity such as 850,000 m² of industrial warehouse approvals in Flanders.
05 · Category
Residential Construction23 stats
01
Number of new residential dwellings started: 32,450 in 2023, down 10.2% from 2022
02
Average surface area of new residential permits: 120 m² in 2023
03
Housing completion rate: 28,900 units finished in 2023
04
Residential construction investment: €14.2 billion in 2023, 43% of total building investment
05
Apartment permits as % of total residential: 52% in urban areas like Brussels in 2023
06
Energy-efficient new homes (EPB A/B rating): 68% of completions in 2023
07
Renovation permits for residential buildings: 156,000 issued in 2023, up 7%
08
Average cost per m² for new residential construction: €2,450 in Flanders 2023
09
Social housing starts: 4,200 units in 2023, focusing on affordable segment
10
Vacant dwellings rate in residential stock: 2.8% or 140,000 units in 2023 census
11
Single-family home permits: 15,600 in 2023, down 15% YoY
12
Residential output volume decline: 8.4% in 2023, worst since 2012
13
Brussels residential permits: 5,200 units, 85% apartments in 2023
14
Wallonia new homes price index up 6.2% to €198,000 average in 2023
15
Renovation expenditure in residential: €8.7 billion in 2023
16
Zero-energy residential buildings certified: 2,450 in 2023
17
Flanders residential land prices averaged €285/m² in 2023
18
Oversupply of residential stock: 18 months inventory in Q4 2023
19
Multi-family residential starts: 16,850 units in 2023
20
Residential construction firms: 7,850 active, generating €12.9 billion turnover 2022
21
Permit approval time for residential: average 112 days in 2023
22
New residential completions per 1,000 inhabitants: 2.6 in Belgium 2023
23
Share of wooden frame residential new builds: 12% in 2023, up from 8% in 2020
Interpretation
Residential Construction Interpretation
In Belgium residential construction, activity appears to be slowing as new starts fall 10.2% to 32,450 in 2023 while energy efficient EPB A/B homes still make up 68% of completions, showing a shift toward finishing greener dwellings despite fewer projects getting underway.
report visual · Key figures
Belgian construction indicators: growth, jobs outlook, and market momentum
Key indicators point to modest output growth with continued labor constraints and a positive employment outlook through 2028.
1.8%
The construction industry's output grew by 1.8% year-on-year in Q4 2023 compared to Q4 2022, driven by civil engineering
1.5%
Construction employment growth forecast at 1.5% annually to 2028, adding 15,000 jobs
45%
Labor shortages affected 45% of construction firms in 2023 survey
5.3%
Total construction orders outstanding rose 5.3% to €45.1 billion by end-2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Belgium Construction Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/belgium-construction-industry-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Belgium Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/belgium-construction-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Belgium Construction Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/belgium-construction-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
56 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level