Jobs in the food preparation sector saw the largest increase in the number of people employed across the EU in the year to Q1 2022, according to a survey by the International Standard Classification of Occupations.

The survey analysed 4.5 million people and their roles.

Personal service workers across the EU, including hairdressers, beauticians, cooks and travel attendants, recorded the second largest increase over the period, at 5.6%.

Jobs in agriculture, forestry and fisheries recorded a decrease in the sector across the EU. Employment fell by 12% across the sector possibly reflecting the changes in the work environment that was sped up by the pandemic.

From an Irish perspective, the country recorded an 11.5% increase in employment rate for people aged between 15-29 between Q1 2021 and Q1 2022, the highest in the EU.

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Across the EU, the employment status this age cohort grew by 6.2% during the 12-month period.

Ireland led the field in the sharpest increase in both men and women working through this period, one of the few countries to record such a rapid increase for both men and women in the workplace.

Employment among men jumped by 18% while the same figure for women rose by 15%, reflecting the increased changes in the workforce over the year.

Despite this increase in the labour market, the share of people who were unemployed on an EU scale decreased at a smaller rate.