In the fourth quarter last year, the number of persons employed in the euro area decreased by 0.8 percent while employment in the European Union (EU-27) decreased by 0.4 percent, both compared with the corresponding quarter of 2011, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union.
In the given quarter, employment fell 0.3 percent in the euro area and 0.2 percent in the EU-27 quarter on quarter. In third quarter of 2012, the seasonally adjusted employment rate had decreased by 0.1 percent in the euro area, while it had remained stable in the EU-27, both quarter on quarter.
For the whole year of 2012, employment decreased by 0.7 percent in the euro area and by 0.4 percent in the EU-27 compared with 2011. In 2011, employment had increased by 0.3 percent in both zones.
In the fourth quarter last year, employment in the construction sector fell 1.4 percent in the euro area and 1.1 percent in the EU-27 compared to the previous quarter. In the fourth quarter, employment in the manufacturing sector fell by 0.6 percent in the euro area and in the EU-27, compared to the previous quarter.