However, despite a stable economy, the number of jobs in the sector are falling, as manufacturers tackle the competition by reducing the labour intensity of their products – and cutting jobs. Employment is currently falling by 3-4% a year.
According to figures from Febelhout, the Belgian federation for the woodworking and furniture industries, turnover rose 0.5% in the first quarter of 2006 – the seventh consecutive quarter of growth. Last year, the country’s furniture industry posted sales of €3bn.
Sales were buoyed by office and shop furniture, and kitchen furniture. The industry is expected to show a 2% rise in turnover for 2006, with a slightly lower growth rate of 1.5-2% for 2007.
Febelhout also said the industry has increasingly positioning itself as “an innovative and creative sector”, paying attention to trends in colours and materials.
