The number of persons employed decreased by 0.2% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.1% in the EU27 in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the third quarter of 2011, employment decreased by 0.2% in both zones. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

The largest fall in employment was recorded in construction (-1.5% in the euro area and -0.8% in the EU27) and the highest increase in real estate activities (+2.2% and +2.4% respectively).

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment fell by 0.2% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27 in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Over the whole year 2011, employment increased by 0.2% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27, compared with -0.5% in both zones in 2010.

Eurostat estimates that, in the fourth quarter of 2011, 223.0 million men and women were employed in the EU27, of which 146.4 million in the euro area. These figures are seasonally adjusted.

These quarterly data on employment provide a picture of labour input consistent with the output and income measure of national accounts.