The number of those in employment in the European Union has slightly increased in the third quarter of 2006. According to the latest data from Eurostat, 517,000 workers found new jobs between July and September, 0.4% more than in the period April/June. As regards the 25-member European Union, the increase is of the order of 0.3% (612,000 newly employed). The percentage grows further if compared with the previous year: +1.4% in the Eurozone and +1.1% throughout the territory of the EU. The most significant annual variations were registered in Latvia (+6.8%), Spain (+3.1%), Slovakia (+2.5%) and Sweden (+2.3%): more contained increases in Hungary (0.5%) and the United Kingdom (0.7%). Zero growth in Malta. According to Eurostat estimates, the total European citizens in employment are currently 139.6 million in the Eurozone and 205.5 million in the 25 member states.For further information, consult the website of the virtual press room of the European Commission http://ec.europa.eu/press
