There were over 11,000 job vacancies in the second quarter
According to Statistics Estonia, in the second quarter of 2023, there were 11,079 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. This is 17% less than in the same quarter last year. Over 6,000 persons left their job at the initiative of the employer.
In the second quarter, the total number of vacant and occupied posts was a little over 617,000. The biggest share of the posts were in manufacturing, trade, and education. Vacant posts accounted for 1.8% of the total. The number of job vacancies was the highest in public administration and defence (1,775), wholesale and retail trade (1,499), and education (1,316).
Eveli Voolens, the Social Statistics Team Lead at Statistics Estonia, said that 40% of all job vacancies were in the public sector. “The rate of job vacancies was the highest in public administration and defence and in professional, scientific and technical activities, and the lowest in agriculture and in construction,” said Voolens.
Most of the vacant posts were in Harju county (81%), including Tallinn city (72%), followed by Tartu county (6.3%) and Pärnu county (3.4%). The rate of job vacancies was the highest in Harju and Rapla counties and the lowest in Põlva and Hiiu counties.
In the second quarter, 53,849 persons were hired and 51,500 persons left their job. Labour flows are characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged employees and employees who left) which decreased by 9% compared with the second quarter of 2022.
“The number of new hires was the highest in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and administrative and support service activities. The number of employees who left their job was the biggest in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and education. 6,341 employees left their job at the initiative of the employer, which accounted for 12% of all the employees who left work,” explained Voolens.
To estimate the number of occupied posts and labour turnover, Statistics Estonia uses the data of the employment register of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. The quarterly average number of vacant and occupied posts is published as the average of the three month-end figures of each quarter. 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:
Helen Maria Raadik
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee