More than 170,000 people in the European Union now rely on online auctioneer eBay as their primary or a secondary source of income, according to new research.
The survey conducted by AC Nielsen covered sellers in the 11 markets in the European Union where eBay has a website - Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as its new marketplaces in Ireland, Poland and Sweden.
The online survey found 170,732 people depend on eBay for approximately one-quarter of their income, while more than 88,427 earn roughly three-quarters or more through their eBay sales.
"EBay is a significant enabler of economic opportunity in Europe," eBay president and chief executive Meg Whitman told a press conference in Brussels today.
"At a time when Europe is striving to create jobs and promote small businesses, this survey shows that the Internet allows European SMEs and entrepreneurs to compete and succeed in the global market," she added.
"We now have nearly 50 million users in Europe, a 25 per cent increase in just 12 months," said Philipp Justus, senior vice president and general manager, eBay Europe.
Founded in 1995, eBay provides a platform for the sale of goods and services by individuals and businesses. It has 181 million registered users worldwide of which Europeans represent nearly 50 million.