Both the European Union (EU) and the eurozone saw employment totals remain relatively stable during the second quarter of 2010 compared with the previous three months.

This is according to new figures from agency Eurostat, which reports the areas saw employment dip by 0.6 per cent compared with the same period of 2009.

Its first estimates for the three months to June show that the number of people in work within the 27 EU nations and the euro area fell year-on-year in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and construction.

However, over the 12 months, jobs in both financial services and business activities grew in both regions by 0.6 per cent, while further gains were seen in other services, including education and healthcare jobs.

The rate of year-on-year decline in both the EU27 and the eurozone slowed during the second quarter of 2010 compared with the first three months.

Recent Eurostat statistics showed that hourly labor costs increased across the EU by 1.6 per cent during the 12 months to the quarter to June 2010.

Posted by Alex Donnell