Luxembourg, 09/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - According to data published on Thursday by Eurostat, self-employed workers represented 16% of total employment in the non-financial business economy (NFBE, which excludes agriculture, public administrations and other non-market services, and financial services) of the EU of 25 in 2005. The figures stood at 19% for men and 11% for women. The Statistical Office of the Communities also indicated that SMEs employing fewer than 250 people are the pillar of the NFBE sector, as in 2003, they accounted for 99.8 of all NFBE businesses of the Union and employed some two thirds of the labour force: 30% in micro-businesses (employing fewer than 10 people), 21% in small companies (employing between 10 and 49 people) and 17% in medium-sized enterprises (employing between 50 and 249 people). These figures are taken from a report published by the Office. Furthermore, a recent Eurostat publication entitled "Key figures on European Business 2006" presents a complete scoreboard of European businesses, including a part specifically devoted to SMEs. (ol)