According to Statistics Estonia, in the 3rd quarter, the unemployment rate was 3.9%, the labour force participation rate was 71.9% and the employment rate was 69%. The estimated number of employed persons was 677,300, which is 10,700 more than in the same quarter of the previous year. The number of long-term unemployed also declined.
In 2022, the average monthly gross wages and salaries in Estonian companies, institutions, and organisations were 1,685 euros, which is 8.9% more than in 2021. However, the average real wages decreased by 8.8% to 1,358 euros last year.
Due to the requirements of the Integrated European Social Statistics (IESS) regulation, as of 2021, the Estonian Labour Force Survey is based on a new methodology. The main goal of the changes is to improve data quality. Statistics Estonia will publish the data of the 1st quarter of 2021, calculated according to the new methodology, in its database on 17 May.
According to Statistics Estonia, in the 1st quarter of 2019, the labour force participation rate was 70.8%, the employment rate 67.5% and the unemployment rate 4.7%. The labour force participation rate and the employment rate remained at a similar level compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The unemployment rate, however, decreased by 2.1 percentage points.
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.
According to Statistics Estonia, in the third quarter of 2021, the construction price index increased by 5.1% compared to the second quarter and by 11.8% compared to the third quarter of 2020.
According to Statistics Estonia, the change of the construction price index in the 3rd quarter of 2019 was 0.4% compared to the previous quarter and 2.1% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2018.
According to Statistics Estonia, in 2020, the construction price index increased by 0.4% compared to the average of 2019. In the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to the third quarter, the construction price index rose by 0.4%, and compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, fell by 0.1%.