The number of persons employed increased by 0.3% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.2% in the EU28 in the fourth quarter of 2017 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 2017, employment increased by 0.4% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU28. These figures are seasonally adjusted. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment increased by 1.6% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU28 in the fourth quarter of 2017 (after +1.7% and +1.6% respectively in the third quarter of 2017).

Eurostat estimates that, in the fourth quarter of 2017, 236.8 million men and women were employed in the EU28, of which 156.7 million were in the euro area. These are the highest levels ever recorded in both areas. These figures are seasonally adjusted. Over the whole year 2017, employment rose by 1.6% in both areas, compared with +1.3% in the euro area and +1.2% in the EU28 in 2016.