Employment and job openings · Euro Area
Euro Area Employment Change QoQ Prel
The Euro Area Employment Change QoQ Prel measures the change in the number of people employed in the Euro Area, or the demand for workers (job openings, advertisements, layoffs announced).
- Importance
- High
- Released
- Quarterly
- Next release
- Currency
- EUR · euro
- Central bank
- The European Central Bank
Latest figures
The latest release for Q2, published on 14 August 2026, came in at 0.1%, in line with the consensus of 0.1%, unchanged from 0.1% the time before.
A result in line with the consensus usually causes little reaction: it was already priced in.
Over the last 7 releases it ranged from 0.1% to 0.3%, averaging 0.1%.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 2026 | Q2 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 13 May 2026 | Q1 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 13 Feb 2026 | Q4 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 14 Nov 2025 | Q3 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 14 Aug 2025 | Q2 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 15 May 2025 | Q1 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 14 Feb 2025 | Q4 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Why it matters
Jobs drive income and spending, and a tight labour market pushes wages and inflation up. the European Central Bank watches employment closely, so strong figures support the euro and weak ones raise the odds of rate cuts. Full-time jobs carry more weight than part-time.
How it is calculated
Most countries count employment from a household labour force survey; job openings come from employer surveys or job-board data; announced job cuts are tallied from company statements.
What changes mean
- Compare with the consensus and with population growth.
- Openings falling while employment holds up is the "soft landing" pattern central banks hope for.
- Quits rising means workers are confident they can find better-paid jobs: wage pressure ahead.
Higher than expected: A stronger figure than expected points to a healthier economy: it usually supports the euro and local stocks, and can push bond yields up.
Lower than expected: A weaker figure than expected points to slowing activity: the euro tends to soften and markets price in lower rates.
A short history
Labour force surveys spread after the Second World War, following the US Current Population Survey (1940s); the US job openings survey (JOLTS) began in 2000.
Questions
What is the Euro Area Employment Change QoQ Prel?
The Euro Area Employment Change QoQ Prel measures the change in the number of people employed in the Euro Area, or the demand for workers (job openings, advertisements, layoffs announced).
What was the latest Euro Area Employment Change QoQ Prel?
0.1% for Q2, published on 14 August 2026 (consensus 0.1%, previous 0.1%).
When is the next Euro Area Employment Change QoQ Prel?
On Friday 13 November 2026 at 10:00 UTC.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.