Employment Trends in the Industrial Sector in the EU Over 10 Years

The industrial sector has long been a cornerstone of the European Union's economy, providing jobs and stability for millions of people. Understanding employment trends in this sector is crucial for assessing the overall health of the EU economy. This article examines employment trends in the industrial sector in ten EU countries from 2012 to 2021, using modelled estimates from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Over the last decade, from 2012 to 2021, the industrial sector shows different trends in employment rates in 10 EU countries (Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria, Ireland and Finland). The share of employment in the EU countries ranges from 16% to 30%. Bulgaria has the highest employment rate in the industrial sector, with the employment rate peaking at over 31% in 2012. This steady growth contrasts sharply with the experience of Spain and Greece, where industrial employment rates were at their lowest in 2014, especially in Greece, where rates fell below 16%. Germany, on the other hand, started the decade with a high level of industrial employment in 2012. However, the following years brought fluctuations. Meanwhile, Finland and Ireland showed remarkable stability in their industrial employment rates over the same period.

Industrial Employment Trends in EU Countries (% of total employment) (2012–2021)

Bulgaria | Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)

Greece | Employment in industry (% of total employment) (modeled ILO estimate)

Industrial Sector vs. Other Sectors

Employment rates in industry were lower than in services, but higher than in agriculture. Over the 10-year period, the services sector consistently had the highest employment rate.

Employment trends in Germany from 2012 to 2021 show significant differences between sectors. The services sector consistently had the highest employment rate over the 10-year period. In contrast, the agricultural sector had the lowest employment rate, with the highest rate observed in 2012. The industrial sector remained in the middle, with fluctuating rates throughout the period.

Employment Rates of Industry, Agriculture, and Services Sectors in Germany (% of total employment) (2012–2021)

Gender Employment Gap

The employment rate for males in industry was consistently higher than that for females in EU countries throughout the decade from 2012 to 2021. The largest gap was observed in Germany, where the employment rate for males was consistently above 40%, compared with 14% for females throughout the 10-year period. On the other hand, the smallest gap was observed in Ireland, with 27% for males and 9% for females.

Ireland | Employment Rates Comparison by Gender in the Industry Sector(% of total employment) (2012-2021)

Germany | Employment Rates Comparison by Gender in the Industry Sector(% of total employment) (2012-2021)

Unemployment Rates Trends

The industrial sector, along with other sectors, faced challenges with high unemployment rates in the European Union over the ten years , from 2012 to 2021 .It should be noted that unemployment is not a direct indicator of its impact on the economy. An increase in the unemployment rate can sometimes be a good indicator of development, while its decrease can correspond to an increase in the poverty rate in some countries. In some countries, the percentage may increase because those who are in the labour force may remain out of work as they receive social and economic support while they find better employment. In other countries, work may not be economically sufficient for the individual and may not be associated with good social security, but the individual is still considered to be part of the labour force.

European Union | Unemployment, female VS males (modeled ILO estimate) )

Denmark had one of the highest unemployment rates among the EU countries for the period 2012–2021. In 2012, both female and male unemployment rates were high and close to each other. However, the female unemployment rate remained consistently higher than the male unemployment rate throughout the specified period

Unemployment Rates Comparison Males vs Females in Denmark (2012–2021)

While Germany had the lowest unemployment rates among the EU countries from 2012 to 2021, the unemployment rate for females was slightly lower than for males each year. However, in 2018 and 2019, the unemployment rate for females was relatively low, with the highest rate occurring in 2012. Similarly, the highest rate for males was also in 2012.

Unemployment Rates Comparison Males vs Females in Germany (2012–2021)