Residents of the European Union (EU) want governments and agencies across the 27 states to create jobs.

This is the claim made by vice-president of the European Commission Viviane Reding, who also commented that many people believe the region is "going in the right direction", but they want a focus on economic growth and employment.

Her comments come after the spring 2011 Eurobarometer, which indicated that 43 per cent of Europeans believe the problems in the labor market have peaked and the jobs situation is now starting to improve, with the majority of individuals in Denmark (68 per cent) and Estonia (64 per cent) feeling this way.

In addition, the biannual poll also revealed respondents want to see greater cooperation and action between member states to address the financial crisis.

"People believe that the EU is taking effective measures against the crisis and we are back on the path of recovery," Ms Reding declared.

Recent figures from the EU statistics agency Eurostat showed joblessness stood at 9.4 per cent in June 2011, unchanged from the previous month.

Posted by Alex Donnell