BRUSSELS, (Unib Rashid) – A record 9,155 students in Belgium are currently combining their studies with running their own businesses, according to entrepreneurs’ organisation Unizo.

The number of self-employed students has risen by 5 per cent over the past year, fully reversing a decline recorded in previous years, Unizo said.

Frank Socquet, director of Unizo’s study service, welcomed the development, saying that students who gain entrepreneurial experience while studying also develop valuable skills, professional networks and resilience that can help them build sustainable businesses in the future.

However, Socquet cautioned that the record figure remains relatively modest, with only a small proportion of students choosing entrepreneurship. He said Belgium, which needs more entrepreneurs, should aim to encourage and inspire many more young people to consider starting their own businesses.

Men account for around two-thirds of self-employed students. Their number has more than doubled since 2017, while the number of female student entrepreneurs has increased by around half during the same period.

Eléonore Simonet, Minister for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and Self-Employed Persons, said encouraging more young women to take the step towards entrepreneurship remains an important priority.

The figures also show a strong regional concentration. Around three-quarters of self-employed students are based in Flanders. In addition, nearly half of those who launch businesses while studying remain self-employed four years later, indicating a significant level of continuity among student entrepreneurs.

Belgium’s student self-employed status provides certain social contribution advantages. Students under the age of 25 currently do not have to pay social contributions on their first €8,687.03 of annual net income under the scheme.

The age limit for this student self-employment arrangement is expected to be abolished soon, potentially making the scheme accessible to a wider group of student entrepreneurs.

The record number highlights growing interest in entrepreneurship among Belgian students, while policymakers and business organisations are calling for further measures to encourage more young people—particularly women—to turn business ideas developed during their studies into sustainable enterprises.