The occupancy rate of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, at 66.5%, was above the average occupancy rate for countries within the EU-27, which was at 64.3%, according to data from Eustat corresponding to 2006, the latest data available with which to make comparisons in both territorial levels. The Spanish occupancy rate for that same year was 64.8%.

Denmark (77.4%), Holland (74.3%), Sweden (73.1%), United Kingdom (71.5%) and Austria (70.2%) were the countries of the area that had the highest occupancy rates. On the other hand, Poland (54.5%), Malta (54.8%), Hungary (57.3%) and Italy (58.4%) occupied the last places with respect to this indicator.

If these data are compared with those corresponding to 1995 and 2000, it is possible to see the radical change that has taken place over these years, as the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country Autonomous Community of the Basque Country went from having an occupancy rate of 48.5% in 1995, to 57.5% in 2000 and from there to 66.5% in 2006, this latter figure being above the average of the EU-27. Whereas these percentages in Spain were of 46.9%, 56.3% and 64.8%, respectively, in the countries that are part of the EU-27 the average for this indicator went from 62.2% in the year 2000 to 64.3% in 2006.

Occupancy rate (%) in the EU-27 (1995-2006)

Sources: Eustat and Eurostat

With reference to women’s occupancy rates, that of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, at 57%, is nearly the same as that of the countries in the EU-27 (57.1%). In this sense, the evolution of this indicator over the last few years can also be qualified as noteworthy within the Basque Country, since it went from 34.4% in 1995, to 43.0% in 2000 and 57.0% in 2006.

The following countries in Northern Europe also occupied the first places in this aspect: Denmark (73.4%), Sweden (70.7%), Holland (67.7%) and Finland (67.3%). However, Malta (34.9%), Italy (46.3%) and Greece (47.4%) were the countries with the lowest women’s occupancy rates. Spain, on the other hand, went from having a rate of 31.7% in 1995, to 41.3% in 2000 and 53.2% in 2006, that is to say, below the average of the EU-27.

However, it is also interesting to point out that the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country had, in 2006, an occupancy rate of the population aged between 55 and 64 of 41.7%, below the average of the EU-27 (43.5%) and that of Spain (44.1%).