Employees

The number of employees (full-time equivalents, FTEs) increased slightly to 22,963 as at 30 June 2015 (31 December 2014: 22,669). This rise predominantly related to expansion in service and production functions. Most of the hiring took place in western Europe and Asia.

The increased headcount, changes to collective bargaining agreements and additions to pension provisions caused personnel expenses to go up by 9.5 per cent to €642.7 million (H1 2014: €587.1 million). They were also pushed up by currency effects. > TABLE 16

Employees (full-time equivalents)

16

 

30/06/2015

31/12/2014

Change

Western Europe

16,175

15,985

1.2%

Eastern Europe

1,792

1,767

1.4%

Americas

629

651

–3.4%

Asia

3,793

3,722

1.9%

Rest of world

574

544

5.5%

Total

22,963

22,669

1.3%