The number of employed persons in the Euro Area grew by 0.1% from the previous quarter to 176.412 million in the first quarter of 2026, slowing from the 0.2% increase in the earlier quarter and aligned with market expectations, according to a preliminary estimate. It was the bloc's 20th consecutive quarter of employment growth, extending the slow but consistent trend of increasing jobs in the European labor market, despite concerns that higher energy prices would trigger job cuts for major employers in the last month of the quarter. Job growth remained high in Spain (0.3% vs 0.8% in Q4), but fell for a third quarter in Germany )-0.1% vs -0.1%). From the previous year, employment levels grew 0.5% in the first quarter, the least since the Covid pandemic in 2021. source: EUROSTAT

Employment In the Euro Area increased by 0.10 in March of 2026. Employment Change in Euro Area averaged 0.21 percent from 1995 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 1.10 percent in the third quarter of 2021 and a record low of -2.80 percent in the second quarter of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Employment Change - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Euro Area Employment Change - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Employment In the Euro Area increased by 0.10 in March of 2026. Employment Change in Euro Area is expected to be 0.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Euro Area Employment Change is projected to trend around 0.40 percent in 2027 and 0.30 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-06 10:00 AM
Employment Change QoQ Final
Q4 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.2%
2026-05-13 09:00 AM
Employment Change QoQ Prel
Q1 0.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1%
2026-06-05 09:00 AM
Employment Change QoQ Final
Q1 0.2% 0.1% 0.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employment Change 0.10 0.20 percent Mar 2026
Full Time Employment 127645.30 128165.40 Thousand Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 75.60 75.80 percent Dec 2025
Labour Cost Index YoY 126.70 115.80 points Dec 2025
Long Term Unemployment Rate 2.00 2.00 percent Dec 2025
Part Time Employment 32259.40 31760.90 Thousand Dec 2025
Population 351.64 350.36 Million Dec 2025
Productivity 104.07 104.46 points Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 10984.00 11047.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 6.20 6.30 percent Mar 2026
Wage Growth YoY 3.00 3.20 percent Dec 2025
Wages 2652.00 2642.00 EUR/Month Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.90 14.90 percent Mar 2026


Euro Area Employment Change
In the Euro Area, employment change refers to the quarterly change in the number of persons who work for pay or profit, or perform unpaid family work. Estimates include both full-time and part-time employment.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
0.10 0.20 1.10 -2.80 1995 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA, WDA

News Stream
Eurozone Employment Grows as Expected
The number of employed persons in the Euro Area grew by 0.1% from the previous quarter to 176.412 million in the first quarter of 2026, slowing from the 0.2% increase in the earlier quarter and aligned with market expectations, according to a preliminary estimate. It was the bloc's 20th consecutive quarter of employment growth, extending the slow but consistent trend of increasing jobs in the European labor market, despite concerns that higher energy prices would trigger job cuts for major employers in the last month of the quarter. Job growth remained high in Spain (0.3% vs 0.8% in Q4), but fell for a third quarter in Germany )-0.1% vs -0.1%). From the previous year, employment levels grew 0.5% in the first quarter, the least since the Covid pandemic in 2021.
2026-05-13
Euro Area Employment Growth Maintains Momentum
The number of employed persons in the Euro Area rose by 0.2% from the previous quarter to 172.6 million in the final quarter of 2025, confirming the preliminary estimate, to maintain the growth rate from the previous period and beat the initial market expectations of a 0.1% expansion. It was the bloc's 19th consecutive period of employment growth, extending the slow but consistent trend of increasing jobs in the European labor market, despite concerns that a stronger euro would reduce orders for major employers. Among the Eurozone's largest economies, job growth remained sharp in Spain (0.8% vs 0.7% in Q3) and Italy (0.3% vs 0.2%), offsetting a second month of contraction for Germany (-0.1% vs -0.1%). Germany remained without a significant increase in employment growth for the 10th straight quarter.
2026-03-06
Euro Area Employment Rises More than Expected
The number of employed persons in the Euro Area rose by 0.2% from the previous quarter to 176.13 million in the final quarter of 2025, ahead of the market expectations of a 0.1% increase, according to a preliminary estimate. It was the bloc's 19th consecutive period of employment growth, extending the slow but consistent trend of increasing jobs in the European labor market, despite concerns that a stronger euro would reduce orders for major employers. Among the Eurozone's largest economies, job growth remained sharp in Spain (0.8% vs 0.7% in Q3) offsetting a second month of contraction for Germany (-0.1% vs -0.1%). Germany remained without a significant increase in employment growth for the 10th straight quarter.
2026-02-13