The number of persons employed decreased by 0.2% in both the 17-memer euro area and the 27-member European Union in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the previous quarter, according to accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the EU statistical office, Friday. Employment decreased in most sectors, the largest fall being recorded in construction . Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment fell by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.5% in the EU27 in the third quarter of 2012 . Eurostat estimates that, in the third quarter of 2012, 222.6 million men and women were employed in the EU, of which 146 million were in the euro area. Meanwhle, Eurostate reported that euro area annual inflation was 2.2% in November 2012, down from 2.5% in October. EU annual inflation was 2.4% in November 2012, down from 2.6% in October.