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Industry down 1%: Confidence needed to reignite EU production

The economic outlook for EU industry has deteriorated. According to the January 2012 report published today by the European Commission, in the last three months to November 2011, manufacturing production was some 1% higher than a year ago, but also 1% below the level registered in the preceding three months.

 
Small companies create 85% of new jobs

85% of net new jobs (1) in the EU between 2002 and 2010 were created by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). This figure is considerably higher than the 67%-share of SMEs in total employment. During this period, net employment in the EU's business economy rose substantially, by an average of 1.1 million new jobs each year.

 
Do SMEs create more and better jobs?

The European Commission published today a study analyzing the important role small and medium sized enterprises play in creating more and better jobs. SMEs provide a vital contribution to the European economy, being responsible for more than two thirds of the total employment in the private sectors and 85% of the net job growth.

 
Waste – a short cut to job creation and lower costs

Full implementation of EU waste legislation would save €72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by €42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020 according to a new European Commission study.

 
Industrial new orders up by 1.8% in euro area

In October 2011 compared with September 2011, the euro area industrial new orders index rose by 1.8%, after a fall of 7.8% in September. In the EU27new orders increased by 0.5% in October 2011, after a fall of 2.1% in September.