Eurostat data show foreign-owned firms account for 16% of EU jobs

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Artem Shendetskii

08.10.2026

Eurostat data show foreign-owned firms account for 16% of EU jobs — Foreign firms' EU impact

Foreign-controlled companies make up only a small share of market producer enterprises in the EU, but their economic footprint remains disproportionately large. In 2024, those businesses represented 1% of enterprises across the bloc while contributing 24% of total value added and employing 16% of workers.

Highlights

Eurostat reports 59% of foreign-controlled EU enterprises in 2024 are owned from within the bloc, while 41% are controlled from outside.
In Ireland, foreign-controlled firms generate 72% of value added, compared to 62% in Luxembourg and 50% in Slovakia, highlighting strong economic impact.
Foreign-controlled firms account for 16% of EU jobs overall, but reach 45% in Luxembourg and 28% in Ireland, Slovakia, and Romania.

Foreign ownership profile across the EU

As reported by Eurostat, 59% of foreign-controlled enterprises in the EU in 2024 are owned by institutional units from other EU countries, while 41% are controlled from outside the bloc.

Luxembourg records the highest share of foreign-controlled enterprises, at 28% of all enterprises, followed by Estonia at 12%. In all other EU countries, such businesses account for 5% or less of total enterprises, with shares ranging from 0.3% in Poland and Italy to 5% in Croatia.

Despite their limited number, these companies play a much larger role in output than their enterprise share suggests. Across the EU, foreign-controlled firms generate 24% of total value added.

Employment and value added concentration

Ireland posts the highest share of value added from foreign-controlled enterprises at 72%, ahead of Luxembourg at 62% and Slovakia at 50%. At the other end of the scale, France stands at 15%, while Italy and Germany each record 18%.

In employment terms, foreign-controlled enterprises account for 45% of jobs in Luxembourg and 28% in Ireland, Slovakia and Romania. Their role is more limited in Greece, where they represent 8% of jobs, and in Cyprus and Italy, where they account for 10% each.

The figures underline how a relatively small group of foreign-owned businesses continues to carry significant weight in several EU economies, particularly in smaller and more internationally integrated markets.

Our earlier coverage of the Campari chairman tax-evasion case detailed how Italian prosecutors are seeking a trial over an alleged exit-tax-related scheme tied to moving a family holding structure to Luxembourg. The article explained that, despite a civil settlement with Italy’s Revenue Agency, the criminal proceedings continue separately, highlighting the scrutiny around cross-border restructurings and where corporate control is located.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.

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