There were 9,199 job vacancies in the fourth quarter of 2023
According to Statistics Estonia, in the fourth quarter of 2023, there were 9,199 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. This is 18.5% less than in the same quarter last year. A little over 7,000 persons left their job at the initiative of the employer.
Liina Kuusik, analyst at Statistics Estonia, stated that the total number of vacant and occupied posts in the fourth quarter was slightly over 604,000 and most of them were in manufacturing, trade, and education. “Vacant posts accounted for 1.52% of the total number of posts. The number of job vacancies was the highest in public administration and defence, education, and human health and social work activities,” the analyst added.
Kuusik said that 37% of all job vacancies were in the public sector. The rate of job vacancies was the highest in public administration and defence, information and communication, and professional, scientific and technical activities. The lowest rates were found in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Most of the vacant posts were in Harju county (81%), including Tallinn city (71%), followed by Tartu county (6.9%) and Ida-Viru county (3.7%). The rate of job vacancies was the highest in Harju and Ida-Viru counties and the lowest in Hiiu and Põlva counties.
“In the fourth quarter, 36,385 people were hired and 44,888 left their job,” the analyst said, adding that the total number of engaged employees and employees who left, or labour turnover, which characterises labour flows, was down 5% from the fourth quarter of 2022.
“The number of new hires was the highest in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, manufacturing, and administrative and support service activities. The number of employees who left their job was the biggest in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, manufacturing, and construction. 7,156 employees left their job at the initiative of the employer, which accounted for 16% of all those who left work,” explained Kuusik.
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 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:
Kai Kaljumäe
Communications Partner
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9184
press [at] stat.ee
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