There were over 31 million people working in the manufacturing sector in the European Union, as of 2024, the most of any economic sector. Employees working in wholesale and retail trade numbered approximately 25.8 million, while there were just over 22.2 million people working in human health and social work.
Number of employees in the European Union in quarter 1 of 2024, by sector
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Number of employees in thousands
Manufacturing
31,010.2
Wholesale and retail trade
25,816.7
Human health and social work
22,248
Public administration and defence
14,453
Education
14,022.4
Construction
13,307.2
Professional, scientific and technical activities
11,828
Transportation and storage
10,680.7
Accomodation and food service
8,502.3
Information and communication
7,913.7
Administrative and support service activities
7,597.7
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
6,238
Financial and insurance
5,646.3
Other service activities
4,762.7
Arts, entertainment and recreation
3,217.9
Activities of households as employers
1,799.2
Real estate
1,692.6
Water supply, sewerage, and waste management
1,623.8
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
1,595.3
Mining and quarrying
570.9
Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
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Eurostat. (September 13, 2024). Number of employees in the European Union in quarter 1 of 2024, by sector (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat. "Number of employees in the European Union in quarter 1 of 2024, by sector (in 1,000s)." Chart. September 13, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat. (2024). Number of employees in the European Union in quarter 1 of 2024, by sector (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat. "Number of Employees in The European Union in Quarter 1 of 2024, by Sector (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 13 Sep 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat, Number of employees in the European Union in quarter 1 of 2024, by sector (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/ (last visited December 03, 2024)
Number of employees in the European Union in quarter 1 of 2024, by sector (in 1,000s) [Graph], Eurostat, September 13, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
