The number of persons employed increased by 1.6% in the euro area EA19 and by 1.5% in the EU28 in the second quarter of 2017 compared with the same quarter last year, according to seasonally adjusted figures from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Compared with the previous quarter employment increased by 0.4% in both the euro area and EU28. Eurostat estimates that, in the second quarter of 2017, 235.4 million men and women(perhaps people) were employed in the EU28 of which 155.6 million were in the euro area. These are the highest levels ever recorded in both areas.

Eurostat figures also showed that among member states, Malta (4.7%) recorded the highest increase compared with the previous year, this was followed by Portugal (3.6%). In contrast, the biggest decrease in employment was observed in Croatia (-1.6%) followed by Latvia (-1.4%).  

Meanwhile, seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 2.3% in the euro area and by 2.4% in the EU28 in the second quarter of 2017, compared to the same period last year.