Eurozone employment edges up to six-year high
Around half a million more people found jobs in the Eurozone in the three months to September, taking the number of people in work to six-year high.
The number of people employed in the currency-bloc climbed 0.3 per cent compared with the three months to June to 151.5m, according to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Commission, this morning.
Estonia was the standout performer over the three months period with empoyment jumping 2.1 per cent.
Big increases were also registered in Ireland and Spain where the number of people in work rose 0.6 per cent in both countries, matching the UK's jobs growth. Yet it was not all good news as the employment slipped 0.5 per cent in Portugal.
While Eurozone employment has reached its highest level since 2009, it remains around two per cent below its pre-recession peak. The most recent growth of 0.3 per cent is also slightly slower than in the three months to June when employment rose by 0.4 per cent.
On the year, the number of people in work is up 1.1 per cent, with the biggest increase in professional and support service actives. The number of people working in the sector climbed 3.2 per cent.