Demand from outside the European Union supported a record 31.6 million jobs across the bloc in 2024, with the United States remaining the largest overseas market for EU

goods and services, according to new figures from Eurostat.

The number of jobs linked to exports destined for non-EU economies rose to 31.6 million last year, representing 14.4% of total employment in the EU. That compares with 22.6 million jobs, or 11.5% of employment, in 2010.

The value generated by overseas demand also increased sharply over the same period. Gross value added created within the EU and driven by foreign consumers and businesses more than doubled from €1.3tn in 2010 to €2.8tn in 2024. As a share of the EU economy, it rose from 13.3% to 17.2% of total gross value added.

The United States remained the EU's most significant export destination in terms of its economic impact. Demand from US consumers and businesses supported around six million jobs across the bloc in 2024, accounting for 19.1% of all employment linked to non-EU demand.

US trade also generated €585.8bn in value added within the EU, equivalent to 21% of the total value created by exports to markets outside the bloc.

The United Kingdom ranked as the second most important non-EU market for employment, supporting 3.4 million EU jobs, or 10.6% of the total linked to foreign demand. It was the third-largest contributor to value added, generating €276bn, or 9.9% of the total.

China was the third-largest overseas market in terms of employment, supporting 3.1 million EU jobs, representing 9.8% of the total. However, it ranked second behind the United States for value added, generating €289.8bn, or 10.4% of the EU's total value added linked to foreign final demand.

The figures underline the growing importance of global markets to the EU economy, with exports playing an increasingly significant role in supporting employment and economic output across the bloc. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.