According to the estimations from Eurostat, compared with the previous quarter, the number of persons employed decreased by 0.2% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU in the first quarter of 2012. In addition, compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment fell by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.1% in the EU in the first quarter of 2012.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published its estimations for employment in the euro area and in the EU. According to such figures, the employment was down by 0.2% in the euro area and stable in the EU for the first quarter of 2012, compared with the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter of 2011, Eurostat foresaw a decrease of the number of persons employed in the EU. According to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, compared with the first quarter of 2011, the figures were -0.5% and -0.1% respectively.

In addition, Eurostat estimates that, in the first quarter of 2012, 222.9 million men and women were employed in the EU, of which 146.1 million in the euro area. These quarterly data on employment provide a picture of labour input consistent with the output and income measure of national accounts.

With regard to the estimations by sector, the largest fall in employment was recorded in construction (-1.3% in the euro area and -0.8% in the EU) and the highest increase in information & communication (+1.0% and +1.3% respectively).