The number of people employed in the European Union (EU) climbed by 0.3 per during the fourth quarter of 2010, new figures reveal.

According to data from Eurostat, this is an increase in the pace of growth from the 0.1 per cent recorded during the third quarter of the year.

The EU statistics agency report also shows the eurozone nations witnessed a climb of 0.1 per cent in the number of jobs during the same period, rising from a stable rate for the previous three months.

Increases in agricultural employment and services such as healthcare, as well as jobs in the financial services and business activities sectors were seen over the quarter.

Year-on-year, employment in both the EU27 and the euro area stood 0.3 per cent higher, with an estimated 221.7 million individuals in work across all member states at the end of 2010.

In related news, further jobs in industry could be created in the EU as new figures from Eurostat show industrial production in the region jumped by 6.8 per cent over the year to January 2011.

Posted by Alex Donnell