“Brussels Tops Belgium with 18,338 Self-Employed, Sees Drop in New Entrepreneurs”

Brussels (Eurotoday): In 2023, Brussels had 18,338 self-employed people, making up 14.8% of Belgium’s total. However, new self-employed individuals decreased from 17.9% in 2019. Most new entrepreneurs are around 35 years old, with 71.3% being male. There are nearly 124,000 self-employed in Brussels, about 10% of the country’s total.

In 2023, Brussels remained the top city in Belgium for self-employment, with 18,338 people choosing to become self-employed, the same as in 2022. This accounts for 14.8% of all self-employed individuals in the country, much higher than the national average of 9.5%. However, the share of new self-employed people in Brussels has dropped from 17.9% in 2019, indicating a decline of 3.1 percentage points. This suggests that while Brussels is still a popular place for entrepreneurs, there may be reasons for the decrease in new starters.

What factors are influencing self-employment trends among young entrepreneurs in Brussels?

The steady number of people starting their businesses in Brussels shows that the area is strong and still appealing to entrepreneurs. However, the drop in new starters since 2019 might suggest problems like changing economic conditions or new rules. While Brussels is still a top place for self-employment, dealing with these challenges could help maintain its growth and ensure it stays important for business and new ideas in Belgium.

In Brussels, new business owners are younger than average, with most starting around 35 years old, which is younger than the national average. There are also more men starting businesses, with 71.3% being male compared to 28.7% female, a bigger gap than the national average. Most new self-employed people work in construction and liberal professions, adding thousands of new jobs this year. Brussels has nearly 124,000 self-employed individuals, making up almost 10% of all self-employed people in Belgium.