Employment in the EU continued to improve in 2005, despite a temporary slowdown in economic growth, a new survey from the the European Commission has revealed.

Growth in employment almost doubled last year to 0.9 per cent. However, the Republic continues to perform far ahead of the EU average with growth of just under 5 per cent - the best of any EU state last year.

Despite unemployment in the EU falling by almost half a percentage point to 8.7 per cent, the union continues to under-perform in relation to EU targets, both in terms of employment and productivity growth, according to the Employment in Europe 2006 report.

Reaching the overall employment target outlined in the Lisbon Agenda, which set the EU the goal of becoming the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010, remains a major challenge and a stronger drive to implement reforms is a matter of urgency, it said.

However, a second survey published by the commission reveals that the majority of Europeans - 56 per cent - have a positive view of the EU's role in employment and social affairs. Three out of four say the EU has a positive impact on access to education and training, the promotion of equality between women and men, and the fight against other forms of discrimination.

A total of 72 per cent say the EU has a positive impact on creating new jobs and tackling unemployment, and 71 per cent say it is positive in combating social exclusion and poverty.