Employment in European Union 28
European Union 28: Employment was 242,261 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in European Union 28, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in European Union 28 is 242,261, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in European Union 28 peaked at 243,408 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 195,975, in 1994.
European Union 28 ranks 34th of 87 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in European Union 28, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 201,949 | — |
| 1992 | 200,034 | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 196,629 | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 195,975 | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 197,112 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 198,063 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 199,610 | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 201,519 | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 203,580 | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 205,689 | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 207,643 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 208,741 | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 210,598 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 211,968 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 214,771 | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 218,624 | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 222,504 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 224,971 | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 220,148 | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 219,753 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 220,150 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 219,632 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 219,316 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 221,529 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 224,382 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 227,660 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 231,175 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 234,249 | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 236,668 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 233,497 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 235,361 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 240,705 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 243,304 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 243,408 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 242,261 | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 199,386 | 195,975 | 203,580 | 9 |
| 2000s | 214,566 | 205,689 | 224,971 | 10 |
| 2010s | 225,451 | 219,316 | 236,668 | 10 |
| 2020s | 239,756 | 233,497 | 243,408 | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union 28
More work & labour data for European Union 28
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 254,923 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 57.21 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 190,645 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 53.96 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 0.8736 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate -0.3826 % change on previous year (2027)
- Employment (ILO modelled estimates) 242,261 (2025)
- Labour force participation rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 57.21 (2027)
- NEET: Youth not in employment, education or training 6,133 (2027)
- Time-related underemployment (ILO modelled estimates) 9,021 (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in European Union 28?
- Employment in European Union 28 was 242,261 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in European Union 28?
- The highest recorded value was 243,408 in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in European Union 28?
- The lowest recorded value was 195,975 in 1994.
- How does European Union 28 rank for employment?
- European Union 28 ranks 34th out of 87 groups with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in European Union 28?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this European Union 28 data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.