There’s a new report out from Vision Mobile:

Apple’s iOS operating system forms the basis 497,000 jobs in Europe – around half of all ‘app economy’ jobs on the continent – according to a new report by Vision Mobile.

Although more developers overall use Google’s Android operating system, iOS is the preferred platform for professional developers (as opposed to hobbyists and explorers), prioritised by 43 per cent of professional developers, compared to 35 per cent for Android.

Interesting economics. 497,000 jobs in Europe alone, based on an OS that was released about 7 years ago.

Overall, the app economy (including development, production, marketing products and sales of apps) directly accounts for 670,000 jobs in Europe in 2014, representing an increase of 26 per cent compared to 2013. Out of these, 406,000 jobs are developer jobs.

However, the app economy also has a wider impact on employment, for example creating new jobs in industries that use app-related products and services, such as health care, automotive, entertainment and education. Vision Mobile therefore estimates that the app economy supports one million direct and indirect jobs in the EU in 2014, based on a multiplication factor of 1.5.

Astonishing numbers.