Press Release: EU job situation improves, but new reform push needed to hit 2010 target

The employment situation in the EU continued to improve in 2005 despite a temporary slowdown in economic growth, according to the 'Employment in Europe 2006' report, published by the European Commission on 6 November 2006. Reforms are producing results. Unemployment in the EU fell by almost half a percentage point (to 8.7% from 9.1% in the previous year) while employment growth almost doubled to 0.9%. Nevertheless, the Union continues to under-perform both in terms of employment and productivity growth in relation to EU targets. A stronger drive to implement comprehensive reforms is a matter of urgency.

European Commission: DG Communication: MEMO/06/404 http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/06/404&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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