Employment in the European Union (EU) could increase as a result of growing gross domestic product (GDP) and industrial production in the region.

The latest figures from Eurostat show GDP across the 27 member states and within the Eurozone was up by 0.2 per cent during the first three months of the year compared with the quarter to December 2009.

According to the data, GDP increased year-on-year in the eurozone by 0.5 per cent and by 0.3 per cent within the EU27.

Growth rates for the final three months of 2009 were 0 per cent among those nations that have adopted the euro and 0.1 per cent across the whole of the EU.

The EU statistics agency also revealed industrial production over the eurozone climbed 1.3 per cent in March this year compared with the previous month and was up by 1.2 per cent within the EU27.

Year-on-year euro area production rose 6.9 per cent and by six per cent throughout the EU.

Posted by Alex Donnell