Statistics in Focus: Population and social conditions. Labour Market Latest Trends 1st quarter 2006 data Employment rate in the EU: trend still up. 2006.17

Abstract

The employment rate rose for both men and women, by 0.5 and 0.9 percentage points respectively in one year. In the first quarter 2006, 71.1% of men and 56.7% of women aged 15 to 64 years were employed in the EU-25. The highest yearly increase in female employment rate were recorded in Estonia (from 61.4% in 2005Q1 to 64.9% in 2006Q1). As a result of the rise in the employment rate, the share of the active population (employed plus unemployed people) in the whole population aged 15-64 was up to 70.2% in the 1st quarter 2006, compared to 69.8% one year before. The unemployment rate showed a significant decrease in this period3(see chart 2, page 2).