Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion

News 20/09/2019

Employment and social developments in Europe: labour market outlook remains broadly positive

The autumn edition of the Commission's Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) Quarterly Review published today confirms that the EU labour market continues to break records, with 241.4 million people in employment in the EU (160 million in the euro area) during the second quarter of 2019.

EU employment has been growing for twenty-five consecutive quarters, since the low recorded in the first quarter of 2013. Moreover, total hours worked have now slightly exceeded the previous peak of 2008. Most of the new jobs are quality jobs. In the first quarter of 2019, permanent jobs increased by 2.5 million compared with the same quarter of the previous year. Over the same period, also self-employment was on the rise (+350,000 people), while the number of temporary employees went down (-600,000 people).

The report further confirms that unemployment in the EU has receded by 11 million people since its peak observed in April 2013. Youth and long-term unemployment continued their decline, too.

Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, said: “It is an important message that the European labour market is going strong. Never before so many people have been in employment in the EU. Let’s keep our focus on delivering the European Pillar of Social Right to ensure that this positive development continues.”

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