110 bankruptcies in week 49

Enterprises
110 bankruptcies in week 49

During the week from 30 November to 6 December included (week 49), the business courts pronounced 110 bankruptcies, resulting in 149 job losses. The number of bankruptcies in week 49 is in line with that of the previous weeks, while the number of job losses decreases.

During the first 49 weeks of 2020, the business courts pronounced 6,784 bankruptcies. This number is lower than that of the same period in 2018 (-26.4%) and 2019 (-31.1%). These 6,784 bankruptcies resulted in a total of 16,588 job losses. The ratio of job losses per bankruptcy therefore amounts to 2.45. This figure is higher than that of the same period in 2018 (1.75) and 2019 (1.95). So there were fewer bankruptcies in 2020, but comparatively more job losses per bankruptcy.  

Evolution of the number of bankruptcies and job losses per year until week 49 of the year

Category 2018 2019 2020 2020/2019 2020/2018
Bancruptcies 9,214 9,847 6,784 -31.11% -26.37%
Job losses 16,119 19,189 16,588 -13.55% +2.91%
Job losses/Bancruptcies 1.75 1.95 2.45 +25.48% +39.77%

This is what emerged from the weekly bankruptcy figures produced by Statbel based on the orders of business courts. These interim weekly estimates make it possible to quickly observe the first trends.