Measuring up the impact of the last recession on jobs

Although employment in service-based businesses across the EU was hard hit by the recent recession, growth has now resumed – albeit not yet at pre-recession levels. By contrast, employment in the construction sector grew by 15% between Q1 2004 and Q2 2008 before subsequently falling by over 17%, with no evidence of recovery. Employment in production has been in long-term decline, but was accelerated by the recession. Between the Q1 2008 and Q3 2010 industrial employment fell by 11.4 % before leveling out as the recession waned. Most hard hit during the recession were mining and quarrying, petroleum and gas production, tobacco products, textiles and clothing and leather goods.

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