By 2022 the EU food and drink industry reached €1.14 trillion in turnover, even as it stabilized after the COVID shock with sector unemployment falling to 5% by 2023. Behind those totals are people and pressures in real numbers, from 4.7 million jobs and 78,000 net new roles in 2022 to labor shortages affecting 15 member states in meat processing. Let’s look at what the workforce, wages, skills, and sustainability figures reveal across the EU food supply chain.
Key Takeaways
- EU food and drink industry employed 4.7 million people in 2022, 2% of total EU employment
- Women represent 32% of the EU food and drink workforce, with 1.5 million female employees
- The sector created 78,000 net new jobs in 2022, average wage €32,000 annually
- The EU food and drink industry generated a turnover of €1.1 trillion in 2022, accounting for 8.3% of total EU manufacturing turnover
- The agri-food sector contributed €1.4 trillion to the EU GDP in 2021, representing 9% of the total EU economy
- Food and beverage manufacturing added €162 billion in value to the EU economy in 2021
- EU produced 157 million tonnes of cereals in 2022, valued at €62 billion at basic price
- Milk production in the EU reached 170.5 million tonnes in 2022, up 1.2% from previous year
- EU meat production totaled 44.5 million tonnes in 2022, with poultry at 14.8 million tonnes
- EU households spent €800 billion on food and non-alcoholic beverages in 2022
- Organic farmland in EU covers 10.3% of total utilised agricultural area in 2022, 16.5 million hectares
- Food waste in EU supply chain is 88 million tonnes annually, 20% at household level
- EU agri-food exports reached €228 billion in 2022, up 7.6% from 2021
- Top EU agri-food export destinations: UK €44bn, US €34bn, China €20bn in 2022
- EU imported €193 billion in agri-food products in 2022, trade surplus €35 billion
In 2022, the EU food and drink industry employed 4.7 million people and grew turnover to about €1.14 trillion.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Workforce21 stats
01
EU food and drink industry employed 4.7 million people in 2022, 2% of total EU employment
02
Women represent 32% of the EU food and drink workforce, with 1.5 million female employees
03
The sector created 78,000 net new jobs in 2022, average wage €32,000 annually
04
19% of food industry workers in EU have higher education qualifications
05
EU bakery sector employs 1.2 million, largest sub-sector in food manufacturing
06
Youth employment (under 25) in EU food industry is 8.5%, 400,000 young workers
07
The industry invests €1.2 billion annually in training 1.8 million workers
08
Dairy sector employment stands at 450,000 in EU, with high skill requirements
09
Meat processing employs 900,000 across EU, facing labor shortages in 15 member states
10
Organic food sector added 50,000 jobs in EU since 2012, total 400,000 employed
11
EU employs 4.9 million in manufacturing food and drink, 15% of manufacturing jobs
12
Average working hours in EU food sector 38 per week, higher than average manufacturing
13
25% of workforce in EU food industry is migrant labor, especially in meat processing
14
Beverages sector employs 300,000, with 20% skilled engineers
15
EU food industry apprenticeship programs train 100,000 yearly
16
Gender pay gap in food manufacturing 16%, lower than EU average 13%
17
12% unemployment rate in food sector post-COVID, recovered to 5% by 2023
18
Fruit and veg processing employs 250,000 seasonally
19
Packaged water turnover €25 billion
20
Food service employment 4 million, 85% of food workforce total
21
Skill shortages affect 40% of EU food manufacturers
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
While the EU food industry kneads a massive workforce of 4.7 million, it's also a sector where the dough isn't always evenly distributed, as seen in a persistent gender gap and a reliance on migrant labor, yet it remains a vital and growing employer constantly trying to rise to the challenge of its own skill shortages.
02 · Category
Market Size and Economic Contribution18 stats
01
The EU food and drink industry generated a turnover of €1.1 trillion in 2022, accounting for 8.3% of total EU manufacturing turnover
02
The agri-food sector contributed €1.4 trillion to the EU GDP in 2021, representing 9% of the total EU economy
03
Food and beverage manufacturing added €162 billion in value to the EU economy in 2021
04
The EU food processing industry represents 15% of the total manufacturing value added in the EU-27
05
In 2022, the EU's food industry turnover reached €1.14 trillion, with an average growth of 2.5% over five years
06
The EU agri-food chain employs 47 million people, contributing 21% to total EU employment
07
Food and drink sector investments in the EU totaled €12.5 billion in 2022
08
The EU food industry accounts for 13% of EU manufacturing employment and 8% of turnover
09
EU food and drink R&D expenditure reached €11.3 billion in 2022, 1% of turnover
10
The sector's gross value added grew by 3.2% in 2022 to €210 billion
11
The EU food and drink industry turnover grew 5.4% in 2021 to €1.1 trillion
12
Agri-food value added €538 billion in 2020, 4.4% EU GDP
13
Beverages sub-sector turnover €150 billion, 14% of total food industry
14
EU processed food market size €700 billion in 2023 projection, CAGR 3.2%
15
Food retail sales in EU €1.2 trillion in 2022, supermarkets 60% share
16
EU confectionery market value €38 billion in 2022, chocolate 50%
17
Dairy market turnover €140 billion, 13% of food industry total
18
EU food industry R&D on sustainability €3 billion yearly
Interpretation
Market Size and Economic Contribution Interpretation
The EU's food industry is a gargantuan, half-chocolate, half-dairy, and entirely essential economic engine that feeds nearly a tenth of the bloc's GDP and a fifth of its workforce, proving that our most fundamental need is also one of our most formidable industries.
03 · Category
Production Volumes and Values24 stats
01
EU produced 157 million tonnes of cereals in 2022, valued at €62 billion at basic price
02
Milk production in the EU reached 170.5 million tonnes in 2022, up 1.2% from previous year
03
EU meat production totaled 44.5 million tonnes in 2022, with poultry at 14.8 million tonnes
04
Olive oil production in EU was 1.9 million tonnes in 2022/23, led by Spain with 1.3 million tonnes
05
EU wine production volume was 139 million hectolitres in 2022, down 6% from 2021
06
Fresh vegetables production in EU hit 65 million tonnes in 2022, tomatoes leading at 4.8 million tonnes
07
EU sugar beet production reached 120 million tonnes in 2022, yielding 39 million tonnes of sugar
08
Pig meat production in EU was 22.5 million tonnes in 2022, Germany top producer at 5.4 million tonnes
09
EU fresh fruit production totaled 54 million tonnes in 2022, apples at 11.5 million tonnes
10
Cheese production in EU reached 10.2 million tonnes in 2022, Netherlands leading exporter
11
EU wheat production 128 million tonnes in 2022, 52% of EU cereals
12
Butter production 2.1 million tonnes in EU 2022, Ireland 25% share
13
EU beef production 7.6 million tonnes carcass weight in 2022
14
Potato production 51 million tonnes in EU 2022, Germany and France top
15
EU honey production 200,000 tonnes annually average 2018-2022
16
Yogurt and fermented milk output 8.5 million tonnes in 2022
17
EU maize production 70 million tonnes in 2022, France leading at 14mt
18
Rapeseed production 18 million tonnes in EU 2022, Germany 6mt
19
Non-alcoholic beverages turnover €90 billion, growth 4%
20
EU poultry production 14.8 million tonnes in 2022, Poland 20%
21
Soft drinks production 140 billion litres annually
22
Bread and bakery output 30 million tonnes yearly average
23
Confectionery production value €40 billion, 90% chocolate
24
Mineral water production 50 billion litres, France 40%
Interpretation
Production Volumes and Values Interpretation
The EU's dinner plate is a €400 billion mosaic where mountains of grain and rivers of milk flow alongside an orchard of fruit, a forest of livestock, and a vineyard in slight retreat, all meticulously managed and exported to feed both its people and its economy.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability and Environmental Impact20 stats
01
EU households spent €800 billion on food and non-alcoholic beverages in 2022
02
Organic farmland in EU covers 10.3% of total utilised agricultural area in 2022, 16.5 million hectares
03
Food waste in EU supply chain is 88 million tonnes annually, 20% at household level
04
EU food industry reduced GHG emissions by 25% per tonne of output since 2008
05
55% of EU food companies have sustainability strategies, targeting net-zero by 2050
06
Water usage in EU food processing averages 4-10 m³ per tonne of product
07
Renewable energy use in EU food sector reached 35% of total energy in 2022
08
Packaging waste from food in EU is 40 million tonnes yearly, 60% recyclable
09
EU invests €10 billion in circular economy for food by 2030 via Farm to Fork
10
Biodiversity on EU farms improved with 15% increase in pollinator habitats since 2018
11
Per capita food expenditure €3,200 yearly in EU 2022, 14% of household budget
12
9.3% of EU agricultural land organic in 2021, up from 6.3% in 2012
13
EU food sector carbon footprint 1.2 Gt CO2eq annually, 25% of total emissions
14
70% of EU food companies use recyclable packaging by 2023
15
Precision farming adopted on 30% of EU farms, reducing inputs 15%
16
EU reduces food loss by 10% since 2015, target 50% by 2030
17
Plant-based alternatives market grows 12% yearly, €3bn turnover
18
EU farms use 50% less antibiotics in livestock since 2011
19
Energy efficiency improved 20% in food processing since 2010
20
25% growth in plant-based exports since 2019
Interpretation
Sustainability and Environmental Impact Interpretation
The EU's food industry walks a fascinating tightrope, spending lavishly at the dinner table while diligently cleaning up its act, proving that a sustainable future must be both ambitious and edible.
05 · Category
Trade and International Commerce22 stats
01
EU agri-food exports reached €228 billion in 2022, up 7.6% from 2021
02
Top EU agri-food export destinations: UK €44bn, US €34bn, China €20bn in 2022
03
EU imported €193 billion in agri-food products in 2022, trade surplus €35 billion
04
Wine exports from EU totaled €23.5 billion in 2022, 70% of global trade
05
Dairy exports hit €27 billion in 2022, cheese €11.5bn, milk powder €6bn
06
EU meat exports reached €12.5 billion in 2022, poultry to Africa key
07
Processed fruit and vegetable exports €15 billion in 2022, to US and UK main
08
EU agri-food trade balance positive €29.6 billion Jan-Nov 2023
09
Spirits exports €10.8 billion in 2022, led by France and Italy
10
EU exported €14 billion in bakery products in 2022, Germany top exporter
11
Imports of tropical fruits €5.5 billion in 2022, mainly bananas from Latin America
12
EU-US agri-food trade €35 billion exports, €12bn imports in 2022
13
Olive oil exports €4.2 billion in 2022, to US €1bn
14
EU pasta exports €2.1 billion in 2022, Italy 80% share
15
Fish and seafood trade surplus €3.5 billion in 2022
16
Chocolate exports €8.5 billion, to Russia and US key markets pre-sanctions
17
EU imports €20 billion nuts annually, 70% from non-EU
18
Turnover per employee €220,000 in food industry
19
EU-China agri-food trade €48 billion exports 2022
20
Exports to UK €52 billion post-Brexit 2022
21
Sugar exports €2.5 billion, to Africa main
22
EU vegetable oil imports €20 billion, soy 50%
Interpretation
Trade and International Commerce Interpretation
The EU's €228 billion feast of agri-food exports in 2022 proves that while we might squabble internally, the world still clamors for our wine, cheese, and bureaucratic excellence—with a healthy side of pasta, chocolate, and enough surplus butter to keep the peace.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Eu Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-food-industry-statistics
MLA
James Okoro. "Eu Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/eu-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Eu Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eu-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level