There were over 32.2 million people working in the manufacturing sector in the European Union, as of the the third quarter of 2021, the most of any industry sector. Employees working in wholesale and retail trade numbered approximately 27.5 million, while there were just under 22.2 million people working in human health and social work.
Number of employees in the European Union (EU27) in 2021, by sector
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Number of employees in thousands
Manufacturing
32,228.5
Wholesale and retail trade
27,349.4
Human health and social work
22,158.9
Education
14,402.2
Public administration and defence
14,372.5
Construction
13,172.8
Professional, scientific and technical activities
11,366.6
Transportation and storage
10,624.6
Accomodation and food service
9,114.1
Administrative and support service activities
8,059.5
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
7,581.1
Information and communication
7,247.2
Financial and insurance
5,607.1
Other service activities
5,460.3
Arts, entertainment and recreation
3,290.1
Activities of households as employers
1,933.5
Real estate
1,720.2
Water supply, sewerage, and waste management
1,638.5
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
1,540.5
Mining and quarrying
562.6
Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies
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Eurostat. (January 12, 2022). Number of employees in the European Union (EU27) in 2021, by sector (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 28, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat. "Number of employees in the European Union (EU27) in 2021, by sector (in 1,000s)." Chart. January 12, 2022. Statista. Accessed June 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat. (2022). Number of employees in the European Union (EU27) in 2021, by sector (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 28, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat. "Number of Employees in The European Union (Eu27) in 2021, by Sector (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Jan 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/
Eurostat, Number of employees in the European Union (EU27) in 2021, by sector (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1195197/employment-by-sector-in-europe/ (last visited June 28, 2022)
