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According to Statistics Estonia, in the 3rd quarter of 2018, the unemployment rate was 5.2%, the employment rate was 68.2% and the labour force participation rate was 72%. The unemployment rate remained low and is similar to that of economic boom years. The employment rate and the labour force participation are even higher than during the boom years. Employment of older persons is at a record high.

“Looking at the wage change trend, wage growth is still slower now than in 2023,” said Sigrid Saagpakk, analyst at Statistics Estonia. Average wages in seven groups of economic activities are higher than the national average Saagpakk stated that the average monthly gross wages and salaries in the third quarter of 2024 were the highest in information and communication (€3,506), financial and insurance activities (€3,068), and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (€2,540). The lowest average monthly gross wages and salaries were seen in accommodation and food service (€1,285)

According to Statistics Estonia, in the second quarter of 2022, the labour force participation rate was 73.1%, the employment rate was 68.8%, and the unemployment rate was 5.8%.

According to Statistics Estonia, in the first quarter of 2022, the labour force participation rate was 73.1%, the employment rate was 69%, and the unemployment rate was 5.5%*.

Statistics Estonia's short-term labour market statistics show that over the past year and a half, there have been fewer young people aged 20–29 working in both the broader information and communication sector and the more specific field of computer programming. While in previous years the field of computer programming was growing mainly because of young people, in the past year their numbers have fallen.

Since the first quarter of 2023, Statistics Estonia uses the data from the employment register of the Tax and Customs Board and the income and social tax declarations to publish the average wages and salaries. People working under employment contracts, the Civil Service Act*, and service contracts are included.

The total number of vacant and occupied posts in the fourth quarter was a little under 599,000. “The number of vacant posts was the highest in public administration and defence and compulsory social security (1,277). The number of occupied posts was the greatest in manufacturing (98,898),” said Sigrid Saagpakk, analyst at Statistics Estonia. Vacant posts accounted for 1.5% of the total number of posts. In addition to public administration, the other activities with a bigger number of job vacancies were information and communication (1,205), trade (1,187) and education (1,120). The number of