In 2017, Belgium had 940,440 SMEs, which is an increase by 4% compared to the previous year, according to the Performance Dashboard for SMEs and Independent Contractors presented by the FPS Economy and the Minister of Independents and SMEs, Denis Ducarme, Monday. Last year, 99.8% of businesses subject to VAT were SMEs (under 250 employees).
The strongest growth concerns companies with zero employees: by 4.6% as compared to 2016. Moreover, in 2017, liberal professions gathered for the first time more SMEs than trade.
The number of workers in small SMEs (fewer than 50 employees) increased by 0.2% in 2017, and, meanwhile, the number of employers using the First Employment Measure – i.e. benefitting from a reduction of the employer’s social security contributions - has increased by over 70% over a year.
Last year, the number of self-employed and auxiliaries rose by 2.8% to 1,087,763 workers. It is the starters offering complementary activities which particularly increased (15.1%).
The Brussels Times
