European countries saw an increase in the number of jobs created last year thanks to increased investment from the US.

A study conducted by Ernst & Young has indicated that a record number of projects on the continent were funded by US firms compared to 2009.

Indeed, 3,757 initiatives received backing from across the pond - which marked a 14 percent increase on the previous year's figures.

Overall investment from the US into Europe was up by 24 percent, following an 11 percent reduction in 2009.

Ernst & Young representative Mark Otty stated that the main challenge facing Europe was keeping up this level of interest from the States.

"Following a significant decline in investment during the worst of the global recession, investors are now coming back in force to Europe, led by the US," he remarked.

Eurostat figures from March 2011 showed unemployment among the EU27 nations stood at 9.5 percent, which was a 0.2 percent improvement on the same month of 2010.

Posted by Fiona Summers