The facts
Employment and job creation
Employment 2023
11.2 million
employees worked in private equity-
backed European companies
5%
of Europe’s total 240 million workforce
Source: EDC / Eurostat / UK ONS
Employment
Private equity is 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-backed companies create and support millions of high-value jobs driving prosperity and growth in the process. Private equity supports 11.2 million jobs in European companies, making it a major employer in most industry sectors.
28,610
companies in Europe backed by
private equity in 2023 across all
industry sectors and all regions
21,536
of which were SMEs
employing 1,042,013 people
Note: Employment data is based on an extrapolation of a sample of 17,586 portfolio companies
Employment by portfolio company stage
See By portfolio company stage section for full analysis
* Other includes Turnaround/Rescue and Replacement capital
Job creation
Private equity builds successful businesses. Successful businesses invest more in growth. And growth leads to job creation.
+339,149
net jobs were created by private equity-backed companies in 2023, a figure roughly comparable to the working population of the greater city of Bilbao, Spain
Source: EDC / Eurostat
See By type of private equity firm
section for full analysis
Job creation 2022-23
Job creation by type of private equity firm
All stages of private equity are contributing to job creation. In 2023, Venture firms recorded the highest job creation rate: +6% (+31,252 people). Typically backing larger companies, Buyout firms increased employment in theirs by 216,779 (+5%).
+6%
net jobs created by private equity-backed SMEs in 2023
See By portfolio company size
section for full analysis
Note: Job creation on portfolio companies in Europe active and backed by private equity as of end of 2023.