The number of job vacancies rose to over 10,000
According to Statistics Estonia, in the second quarter of 2025, there were 10,344 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions, and organisations of Estonia. This is 4.4% more than in the same quarter last year. In the second quarter, 5,731 persons left their job at the initiative of the employer.
Sigrid Saagpakk, analyst at Statistics Estonia, noted that Statistics Estonia uses the data of the employment register of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board to estimate the number of occupied posts and labour turnover. Data on job vacancies, however, are collected by Statistics Estonia using a questionnaire.
Vacant posts accounted for 1.7% of the total number of posts
The total number of vacant and occupied posts in the second quarter was 595,760. The number of vacant posts was the highest in education (1,782) and in wholesale and retail trade (incl. repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) (1,407). The number of occupied posts, however, was the greatest in manufacturing (97,781).
“Vacant posts accounted for 1.7% of the total number of posts in the second quarter of 2025. In last year's second quarter, vacant positions accounted for 1.6%,” stated Saagpakk. She added that, in addition to education and wholesale and retail trade, large numbers of vacancies in the second quarter of 2025 were also seen in public administration and defence (incl. compulsory social security) (1,172) and in manufacturing (1,049).
In the second quarter, 50,670 people were hired, which is over 300 more than in the second quarter last year. The number of people leaving their job at the initiative of the employer was 5,731 – down by 296 compared with last year’s second quarter. 11.9% of all those who left their jobs did so at the initiative of their employer, while last year this figure was 12.5%.
“Looking at all the people leaving their jobs in the second quarter of 2025, the largest number was found in wholesale and retail trade (7,274 employees). The highest numbers of new hires, however, were recorded in wholesale and retail trade (8,144) and in manufacturing (6,825),” the analyst said.
In the second quarter, the majority of job vacancies were in Harju county (81.9% of all vacant posts). The largest shares of occupied posts were also found in Harju county (57.2% of all occupied posts) and in Tartu county (11.1%). These were followed by Ida-Viru county (4.5%) and Pärnu county (3.9%).
Why do the vacancy figures from Eurostat and Statistics Estonia differ?
On 15 September, Eurostat will also publish data on job vacancies. The data from Eurostat and Statistics Estonia differ somewhat. Statistics Estonia publishes data on job vacancies in agriculture, forestry, and fishing – Eurostat does not publish data on these activities.
Job vacancy – a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied or about to become vacant, for which the employer is taking active steps and is prepared to take further steps to find a suitable candidate from outside the enterprise/institution/organisation concerned, and which the employer intends to fill either immediately or within a specific period of time.
Number of job vacancies – the quarterly average calculated based on three months' data, as at the end of each month
Rate of job vacancies – the share of job vacancies in the total number of jobs
The quarterly average number of vacant and occupied posts is published as at the end of the month. The main representative of public interest for the statistical activity is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for conducting the statistical activity.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
See also the dedicated section on wages and salaries and labour costs.
When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
For further information:
Susann Kivi
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 5696 6484
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)