Compared with the previous quarter, Eurostat estimations foresee that the number of persons employed decreased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU27 in the fourth quarter of 2011. In the third quarter of 2011, employment decreased by 0.2% in both zones. In addition, hourly labour costs in the euro area rose by 2.8% in the year up to the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with 2.6% for the previous quarter.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has published its estimation on the number of persons employed in the EU and in the euro area in the fourth quarter of 2011. According to the figures, employment down by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2010, -0.2% and 0.0% respectively. Over the whole year 2011, employment increased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU, compared with -0.5% in both zones in 2010. Moreover, as announced the 1 of March 2012, the unemployment rose in the EU and in the euro area in January 2012 compared to December 2011. The largest fall in employment was recorded in construction (-1.5% in the euro area and -0.8% in the EU) and the highest increase in real estate activities (+2.2% and +2.4% respectively).

On the other hand, Eurostat also published figures on hourly labour costs in the euro area that rose by 2.8% in the year up to the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with 2.6% for the previous quarter. In the EU, the annual rise was 2.7% up to the fourth quarter of 2011, compared with 2.6% for the previous quarter. Over the whole year 2011, hourly labour costs increased by 2.8% in the euro area and by 2.7% in the EU27, compared with 1.5% and 1.7% respectively in 2010.

With regard to Member States for which data are available for the fourth quarter of 2011, the highest annual increases in hourly labour costs were registered in Bulgaria (+12.6%), Romania (+8.6%), Estonia (+7.2%) and Hungary (+6.6%). Decreases were recorded in Ireland and Portugal (both -1.7%) and Slovenia (-0.3%).