Objective 1 regions have seen their employment rates increase at a faster pace than in others: between 1996 and 2002, the number employed in the former rose by over 5% of the working-age population, as against 4% in the rest of the EU. Still, the proportion of the working-age population in employment remains markedly lower in Objective 1 regions (56.2% in 2002) than in others (66.7%).
In doelstelling-1 regio's zijn de werkgelegenheidscijfers sneller gestegen dan in andere: tussen 1996 en 2002 nam het aantal werkenden met meer dan 5% van de arbeidsgeschikte bevolking toe tegenover 4% in de rest van de EU. Toch was het percentage van de beroepsgeschikte bevolking met werk nog steeds aanzienlijk geringer in doelstelling-1 regio's (56,2% in 2002) dan in andere (66,7%).