According to recently released figures, beer consumption in Belgium fell by 2.1% in 2024, following a more dramatic 6% drop in 2023 — a trend attributed to growing economic pressures, soaring costs, and broader geopolitical instability
April alone saw 982 companies go under — a 6.2% increase compared to April 2024, marking the highest number of bankruptcies in that month since 2013. The data suggests a continuing trend of economic pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across several sectors
The initiative, a collaboration between Brussels' employment service Actiris, Wallonia's Forem, and Flanders' VDAB, sought to bridge the gap between affected workers and companies in need of skilled labor
The country now ranks 20th among the world's 69 steel-producing nations. However, February output declined by 3.3% compared to January, reflecting a short-term contraction despite the sector’s overall upward trend
Currently, Belgium is one of the few European nations that does not impose a time limit on unemployment benefits. Under the existing rules, jobseekers receive 65% of their last salary, subject to upper and lower limits, with payments decreasing over time
