GDP and Employment: Eurozone Experiences Slow Growth in First Quarter of 2026
Eurozone Quarterly Growth Slows
According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, the GDP of the eurozone increased by 0.1% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, following a rise of 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025. The European Union shows a slightly better performance with a quarterly increase of 0.2%.
On an annual comparison, the eurozone records a growth of 0.8% and the European Union 1.0%, both declining from the previous quarter (1.3% and 1.4%, respectively). By comparison, the United States experienced an acceleration with a quarterly increase of 0.5% and an annual growth of 2.7%.
Employment shows slight growth
The number of employed individuals increased by 0.1% in both the eurozone and the European Union in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous quarter, following a rise of 0.2% in both areas in the preceding quarter. On an annual basis, employment grew by 0.5% in the eurozone and 0.6% in the European Union, with these rates declining compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (0.7% and 0.6% respectively).
Eurostat specifies that these employment figures are consistent with the production and income measures of national accounts. The flash estimates for the first quarter of 2026 are based on data covering 99% of the eurozone GDP and 93% of total employment.
This content has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances may differ from the original French version.
