The European Union has lost about 6 million jobs

EU countries have lost 5.7 million jobs.

That is shown by a report of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), published today.

In Q2 2020, 5.7 million fewer people were еmployed than in Q4 2019, and the EU27 unemployment rate increased from 6.6% to 6.7% over the same period.

In regard to Bulgaria, the data show an increase in unemployment by 5.6% from the Q2 of 2019 to the Q2 of 2020. In Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia and the Baltic States, temporary employment levels decreased by a quarter or more (although from very low starting points).

However, a clearer picture of the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market emerges when trends in weekly hours worked and the share of those employed but who did not work are considered. Between Q2 2019 and Q2 2020, EU employment declined by 2.4%, average weekly hours worked of those who attended work reduced by nearly one hour, while the share of workers employed but not working more than doubled to17%. There are significant differences between Member States. /BGNES