The number of persons employed in the euro area fell by 0.2% (347 000 persons) in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the same period, the number of persons employed in the EU27 decreased by 0.3% (583 000 persons). In the third quarter of 2009, employment declined by 0.5% in both zones. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

Falls in employment were recorded in manufacturing, construction and trade, transport & communication services. Financial services & business activities decreased by 0.1% in the euro area, but grew by 0.1% in the EU27. Agriculture increased by 0.5% and 0.1% respectively, and other services (which mainly includes public administration, health and education) grew by 0.2% in both zones. 

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment fell by 2.0% in the euro area and by 2.1% in the EU27 in the fourth quarter of 2009. In the third quarter of 2009, employment decreased by 2.2% and 2.1% respectively. 

Eurostat estimates that, in the fourth quarter of 2009, 221.1m men and women were employed in the EU27, of which 144.3m were in the euro area. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

Over the whole of 2009, employment decreased by 1.8% (2,721,000 persons) in the euro area and also by 1.8% (4,021,000 persons) in the EU27, compared with +0.9% and +0.7% respectively in 2008.