There were 9,598 job vacancies in the first quarter
According to Statistics Estonia, in the first quarter of 2024, there were 9,598 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. This is 16.3% less than in the same quarter last year. A little under 6,500 persons left their job at the initiative of the employer.
Liina Kuusik, social statistics analyst at Statistics Estonia, stated that the total number of vacant and occupied posts in the first quarter was slightly over 609,000 and most of them were in manufacturing, trade, and education.
“Vacant posts accounted for 1.58% of the total number of posts. The number of job vacancies was the highest in human health and social work activities, public administration and defence, and education,” the analyst noted.
40% of all job vacancies were in the public sector. “The rate of job vacancies was the highest in public administration and defence, human health and social work activities, and transportation and storage. The lowest rates were found in other service activities and in agriculture, forestry and fishing,” she reported.
Most of the vacant posts were in Harju county (74.2%), including Tallinn city (65.8%), followed by Tartu county (7.3%) and Järva county (3.3%). The rate of job vacancies was the highest in Järva and Viljandi counties and the lowest in Hiiu and Põlva counties.
Kuusik pointed out that 38,433 persons were hired and 39,753 persons left their job in the first quarter. Labour flows are characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged employees and employees who left) which decreased by 8% compared with the first quarter of 2023.
“The number of new hires was the highest in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and administrative and support service activities. The biggest numbers of employees who left their job were recorded in wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, manufacturing, and construction. 6,485 employees left their job at the initiative of the employer, which accounted for 16% of all those who left work,” the analyst explained.
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:
Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)