Non-compete and related clauses are fairly common in Belgium. According to employers, between 22% and 33% of private-sector employees are currently bound by a non-compete clause compared to an average of 20% to 30% across the OECD countries covered by the survey. Results from the employee survey confirm a high prevalence: 14% of workers report being bound by a non compete clause, with an additional 19% who believe they “probably” are, compared to an average of 15% and 21% across the OECD countries covered by the survey.
Belgium Economic Snapshot
The snapshot offers a concise summary of Belgium's economic trends and prospects, including GDP and inflation projections, growth prospects, and structural reform priorities, drawing from the OECD Economic Survey, Economic Outlook, and Foundations for Growth and Competitiveness reports.
Key links
Key findings on non-compete and related clauses for Belgium, July 2026
Non-compete and related clauses are widespread and their use is rising
Economic Outlook: GDP and inflation projections, June 2026
GDP growth will decrease to 0.7% in 2026 before picking up to 1.1% in 2027. Energy support measures and partial wage indexation will only partly mitigate the negative impact of inflation and fiscal consolidation measures on purchasing power, hurting consumption growth. Headline inflation will increase to 3.5% in 2026 before slowing to 2.6% in 2027. The energy shock and geopolitical tensions will also drag on exports. Potential gas or oil shortages pose a risk for Belgium’s highly fossil-fuel dependent industry. A consolidation strategy that fails to put public debt on a downward path would raise already high interest costs.
Fiscal consolidation is underway, but additional efforts remain necessary to stabilise the high level of public debt and strengthen budgetary coordination across federal and regional governments. Reducing high energy intensity and fossil fuel dependence through a comprehensive energy transition strategy would strengthen energy security and resilience to energy shocks. Lowering administrative burdens and streamlining permitting procedures would foster investment.
Foundations for Growth and Competitiveness, April 2026
GDP per capita continues to lag that of the upper half of OECD countries, owing to the substantial gap in employment rates. While labour productivity remains among the highest in the OECD, it has slowed significantly over the past decade. However, this negative trend has reversed since 2021, sustained by stronger investment.
Higher employment rates would contribute to improving living standards, wellbeing, and social inclusion, while helping to address challenges posed by demographic changes. This requires reducing the tax burden on labour, particularly for the low skilled, and strengthening adult education. Reducing skills shortages as well as regulatory and administrative overheads can foster business dynamism and help Belgium’s firms achieve their full potential.
Latest Economic Survey of Belgium (September 2024)
Belgium’s economy has been relatively resilient to recent shocks and is expected to continue to grow steadily. Public finances have deteriorated though. In absence of fiscal consolidation, the debt‑to‑GDP ratio is projected to rise fast. Cutting ineffective public spending and reforming the budgetary framework to increase accountability across governments would help ensure public finances are on a sustainable path. Reforms to taxes and benefits could foster labour market activation and expand the tax base. Strengthening prevention and return‑to‑work programmes could contribute to tackling the high and increasing take up of disability benefits and better support employment of people with reduced work capacity. A coordinated strategy to reduce administrative costs and facilitate small firms’ access to training could increase business dynamism and productivity. Targeted support for female entrepreneurs could also unlock additional potential of the SME sector. Achieving the green transition requires setting up binding targets and improving coordination of climate policy across federal and regional governments. Easing procedures and improved financing schemes would help deploy renewable energy production. Transparency in future environmental standards with adequate and well‑targeted financial incentives would sustain household investment in energy efficiency and electrification, particularly in the transportation and building renovation sectors.
SPECIAL FEATURES: LABOUR MARKET, CLIMATE POLICY, SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES
Further reading
Economic and fiscal measures in Belgium, December 2023
As countries seek to draw lessons the COVID-19 crisis and increase their future resilience, evaluations are important tools to understand what worked or not, why and for whom. This report builds on the OECD work on “government evaluations of COVID-19 responses”. It evaluates Belgium’s responses to the pandemic in terms of risk preparedness, crisis management, as well as public health, education, economic and fiscal, and social and labour market policies. Preserving the country’s resilience in the future will require promoting trust in public institutions and whole-of-government approaches to crisis management, reducing inequalities, and preserving the fiscal balance. The findings and recommendations of this report provides guidance to public authorities in these efforts.
