In the last quarter of 2009, the number of persons employed in the European Union member states (EU-27) fell by 0.3 percent (583,000 persons) compared to the previous quarter, according to a report released by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities. In the third quarter, employment in the region had decreased by 0.5 percent compared to Q2 2009.
As compared to the fourth quarter of 2008, employment in the EU-27 regressed by 2.1 percent in the given period.
In the quarter in question, employment in manufacturing fell by one percent and was down 0.7 percent in construction, both compared to Q3 2009.