Unchanged from the previous quarter

In the third quarter of 2023, the employment rate increased by 0.2% in both the European Union (EU) and the euro area compared with the previous quarter, according to data published by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat). This represents an acceleration from the 0.1% advance recorded in the previous quarter.

Employment growth in Quarter 3:

The most significant increases were recorded in Lithuania and Malta (both 1.4%), Spain (1.3%), Croatia (1.0%), Ireland and Poland (both 0.5%), Cyprus (0.4%), Romania and Denmark (both 0.3%).

The most pronounced decline was recorded in Estonia (-0.9%), the Czech Republic (-0.7%) and Finland (-0.6%).

Comparison with the Similar Period in 2022:

In Q3 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, employment increased by 1.2% in the EU and by 1.3% in the euro area.

In the April-June 2023 period, growth was 1.2% in the EU and 1.4% in the euro area.

Number of hours worked:

Hours worked remained stable in the EU and decreased by 0.1% in the euro area in Q3 2023 compared to the previous quarter.

Compared to the same period in 2022, hours worked increased by 0.6% in the EU and by 0.8% in the euro area in Q3 2023.

Based on seasonally adjusted data, Eurostat estimates that 216.6 million people were employed in the EU in Q3 2023, of which 167.7 million in the euro area.