Private Equity at Work report (2023)

Employment & job creation across Europe

Private equity and venture capital are a cornerstone of the European economy present in every region and every major business sector across the continent. From technology and life sciences start-ups to manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large consumer-focused multinationals, private equity and venture capital-backed companies create and support millions of high-quality jobs, driving prosperity and growth in the process.

Now in its fourth year, Invest Europe’s Private Equity at Work report provides unequalled insight into how private equity and venture capital have helped drive the recovery from the effects of the pandemic, creating 6.5% more jobs at companies they backed in 2021, or over five times the average across Europe. With data going back to 2017, the study shows how private equity and venture capital support employment and create jobs year after year, through periods of economic growth and downturn alike.

At the end of 2021, companies backed by private equity and venture capital employed 10.5 million people across Europe – more than the entire population of Sweden. This figure represents around 4.5% of all European workers and is higher than the number of people employed in agriculture, fishing, and forestry in Europe.

Across countries and regions, private equity and venture capital-backed businesses are part of the glue holding societies together, providing jobs and opportunities for people in cities, towns and rural communities.