Employment in the European Union continued to increase during the second quarter of 2026, although growth remained modest, according to the latest estimates published by Eurostat.

Around 221.4 million people were employed across the European Union during the April-to-June period. Of those, approximately 176.4 million were employed in countries belonging to the euro area.

Compared with the first quarter of 2026, the number of employed people increased by 0.1% in both the European Union and the euro area. The figures indicate continued expansion in employment, but at a relatively slow pace. During the first quarter of 2026, employment had also increased by 0.1% in the euro area while remaining broadly stable across the EU as a whole.

The annual comparison provides a wider view of the trend. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, employment increased by 0.4% in the European Union and by 0.5% in the euro area. The figures therefore show that European employment continued to expand over the year, although significant differences remained between Member States.

Eurostat also monitors the number of hours worked. During the second quarter of 2026, hours worked increased by 0.1% from the previous quarter in both the European Union and the euro area. Compared with the same quarter of 2025, hours worked increased by 0.8% in the EU and by 0.7% in the euro area.

This distinction matters because the number of people in employment is not the only measure of the amount of labour being used across the economy. A person can be counted as employed while working either full-time or fewer hours, while total hours worked provide an additional measure of labour input.

Developments differed considerably between Member States. Among countries for which data were available, Portugal recorded the strongest quarterly increase in employment, at 1.0%. Czechia and Malta followed, both recording increases of 0.9% compared with the first quarter. At the other end of the scale, Finland recorded the largest decline, at 0.8%. Employment in Greece fell by 0.4%.

These differences show that the overall positive European trend was not distributed evenly across national economies.

The employment figures were published against a backdrop of stronger economic activity during the second quarter. According to Eurostat, seasonally adjusted gross domestic product increased by 0.7% in the European Union and by 0.6% in the euro area compared with the previous quarter. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, GDP increased by 1.4% in the EU and 1.2% in the euro area. Employment therefore expanded more slowly than economic output during the period.

The latest figures also illustrate the difference between flash estimates and more comprehensive data. Preliminary estimates published in August had already indicated quarterly employment growth of 0.1% in both the EU and the euro area. The annual EU estimate was subsequently revised. The more complete figures now indicate annual employment growth of 0.4% in the European Union, compared with the earlier estimate of 0.5%. Annual employment growth in the euro area remained at 0.5%.

Eurostat notes that the estimates may be revised further as Member States submit additional information and statistical databases are updated.

The overall picture for the second quarter of 2026 is therefore one of a European labour market that continued to expand, but only gradually. The 221.4 million people employed across the European Union represent the enormous scale of the bloc's common labour market. At the same time, differences between Portugal, Czechia and Malta, where employment grew relatively strongly, and Finland and Greece, where it declined, demonstrate that conditions continue to vary considerably between national economies.

Employment figures should also be distinguished from unemployment rates. Employment growth and unemployment are related indicators but they are not interchangeable because the size and participation of the labour force can also change. The latest data nevertheless confirm that the number of people working across the European Union continued to increase during the second quarter of 2026.

Source consulted: GDP main components and employment estimates for the second quarter of 2026

Photo: Thijs ter Haar, European Union flags in front of the Berlaymont building, Brussels, 23 May 2014. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.