Regional service center 

Ghent fulfills a central function for the region as far as commercial and non-commercial services are concerned. The tertiary (32%) and quaternary sectors (42%) account for three quarters of the workforce in Ghent.

Biggest employers

The biggest employers in Ghent are situated in the non-commercial services: the care sector and social services (17% of the workforce). Also the education sector (14%) and the local authority services (+/-9%) have an important share. With its 15 hospitals and psychiatric institutions, Ghent is one of the most important hospital centers in Flanders.

Commercial services

Built upon the availability of important industrial activities through the years, or rather centuries, Ghent has developed to become an important center for commercial services. The financial services and insurance sector are primarily located in the center of the city and account for approximately 3% of the workforce. Other important sectors are the ‘retail, hotel and catering industries' (9% of the workforce), ‘wholesale and logistics' (9%) and ‘other business services' (call centers, market research companies, personnel services,...) accounting for 9% of the workforce.

Office market

The Ghent office market is on the increase and will continue to expand further in the coming years. The project The Loop has plans to develop 150,000 m² and at the station Ghent Sint-Pieters, there will be more than 80,000 m² of additional office space.