The number of persons employed increased by 0.2% in both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 in the third quarter of 2016 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In the second quarter of 2016, employment rose by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU28. These figures are seasonally adjusted. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU28 in the third quarter of 2016 (after +1.3% and +1.4% respectively in the second quarter of 2016).

Eurostat estimates that, in the third quarter of 2016, 232.5 million men and women were employed in the EU28 (highest level ever recorded); of which 153.4 million were in the euro area (highest level since the fourth quarter of 2008). 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.