1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Statistical Officer
1.5. Contact mail address
European Commission
Eurostat – Statistical Office of the European Union
L-2920 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
+352-4301-37684
1.8. Contact fax number
no fax number available
2.1. Metadata last certified
24 March 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
4 June 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
15 April 2025
This indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set where it is used to monitor progress towards SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under ‘A new plan for Europe's sustainable prosperity and competitiveness’and ‘Supporting people, strengthening our societies and our social model’. SDG 8 calls, among other things, for providing opportunities for full and productive employment and decent work for all.
The breakdown of the indicator by citizenship is presented as a separate table, sdg_08_30a. It is used to monitor progress towards the social inclusion of migrants within the scope of SDG 10 on reducing inequalities.
Employment and other labour market-related issues are at the heart of social and political debate in the EU. Paid employment is crucial for ensuring sufficient living standards and it provides the necessary foundation for people to achieve their personal goals and aspirations. Moreover, employment contributes to economic performance, quality of life and social inclusion, making it a cornerstone of socioeconomic development and well-being.
The European Pillar of Social Rights sets out 20 key principles and rights essential for fair and well-functioning labour markets and social protection systems. The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, adopted in 2021, turns the Principles into concrete actions to benefit citizens. It also proposes an ambitious employment target of 78 % of the population aged 20 to 64 for the EU to reach by 2030. In support of this, the Action Plan proposes to halve the gender employment gap by 2030 compared with 2019 and to decrease the rate of young people neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET) aged 15 to 29 to 9 % by 2030.
4.1. Data description
The indicator measures the share of the population aged 20 to 64 which is employed. Employed persons are defined as persons who, during a reference week, worked at least one hour for pay or profit or were not working but had jobs from which they were temporarily absent.
The indicator is part of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) main indicators, where the series are adjusted (seasonal adjustment) and break-corrected, and should consequently not be compared with the indicators in the annual and quarterly detailed series, which are not adjusted and not break-corrected. Results might occasionally be slightly different.
The separate table sdg_08_30a shows the breakdown of employment rate by citizenship. It shows the shares for citizens of the reporting country, for foreigners from EU countries and for non-EU citizens.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of population aged 20 to 64 by sex and % of population aged 20 to 64 by citizenship
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source datasets (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS (LFS)
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: ESS Labour Force Survey (LFS)
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated annually in April. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated by the end of April after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2002 for sdg_08_30a and in 2009 for sdg_08_30.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Fully comparable since 2009 for the EU aggregate with some exceptions at the country level over the years for sdg_08_30.
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is 4 data points for sdg_08_30a.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of the indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards the SDGs in an EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
see table sdg_08_30, sdg_08_30a
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: Eurostat overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
