Belgian companies face persistent economic challenges. In just one week, 159 bankruptcies were recorded, resulting in the loss of 381 jobs. Which sectors and regions are the most vulnerable?
According to data from Statbel, the national statistics institute, the first two weeks of 2025 recorded a total of 268 bankruptcies. In one week, 159 businesses have already had to close their doors, resulting in the loss of 381 jobs.
Although an overall decline in bankruptcies has been noted in recent years, some sectors continue to show signs of vulnerability.
An evolution compared to previous years
Comparing the first two weeks of 2025 with previous years, we observe a general downward trend.
In 2024, there were almost 1000 bankruptcies in the first fifteen days of the year. A figure significantly lower than in 2023: 2,715 bankruptcies over the same period.
If we go back even further, in 2010 this figure was 1,335. Ten years later, in 2020, Statbel recorded 666 bankruptcies.
Which sectors are most affected?
The sectors most affected during this second week of January are as follows:
- Construction: 37 bankruptcies, with 69 job losses.
- Commerce: 32 bankruptcies recorded, leading to 72 job losses.
- Accommodation and catering: 23 bankruptcies and 49 job losses.
- Scientific activity: 14 bankruptcies and 35 job losses.
- Industry: 10 bankruptcies and 56 job losses.
Less affected sectors include:
- Transport and warehousing: 9 bankruptcies and 29 job losses.
- Information and communication: 2 bankruptcies and 2 job losses.
Since 2010, commerce remains the sector most affected by bankruptcies, with more than 35,000 businesses closed and nearly 90,000 job losses. Over two years (2023-2025), there were 4,899 retail bankruptcies.
Construction companies, often impacted by rising material prices, labor shortages and competition, appear particularly vulnerable.
Among the sectors with the most job losses over the last 15 years: commerce, construction and the accommodation and catering sector.
The least affected sector is that of computing and communication, with just under 5,000 bankruptcies and more than 12,000 job losses.
More bankruptcies in the north of the country
The distribution of bankruptcies by region highlights significant differences in recent weeks:
- Brussels-Capital Region: 31 bankruptcies and 55 job losses.
- Flemish region: 89 bankruptcies, leading to 206 job losses. Flanders remains the most impacted region in absolute numbers.
- Walloon region: 39 bankruptcies, with 120 job losses.
Flanders, the most populous region, logically concentrates the greatest number of bankruptcies in absolute value. Between 2023 and 2024, it recorded a notable increase, going from 5,908 to 6,300 bankruptcies.
Wallonia and Brussels also saw increases, of 6% and 14% respectively.
Wallonia saw 2,656 bankruptcies in 2023 and 2,817 in 2024. Although smaller, Brussels saw an increase in bankruptcies, from 1,679 in 2023 to 1,918 in 2024. The total bankruptcies increased by 10,243 in 2023 to 11,035 in 2024.
Small businesses most impacted
We also observe that the most affected sectors include a large share of small and medium-sized businesses, which seem particularly exposed to economic disruptions.
Available data shows that 381 jobs were lost in one week, spread across mainly small companies (81% with fewer than 4 employees).
With 159 bankruptcies in one week, the Belgian economy still has to overcome many challenges to support its small and medium-sized businesses in the face of current economic pressures.
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