There were 9,908 job vacancies in the second quarter
- The total number of vacant and occupied posts stood at a little over 609,000.
- 50,365 persons were hired.
- 76% of job vacancies were in Harju county.
According to Statistics Estonia, in the second quarter of 2024, there were 9,908 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. This is approximately 11% less than in the same quarter last year. Over 6,000 persons left their job at the initiative of the employer during this period.
“In the second quarter, the total number of vacant and occupied posts was a little over 609,000. The majority of the posts were in manufacturing, trade, and education,” stated Eveli Voolens, team lead of social statistics at Statistics Estonia.
Vacant posts accounted for 1.6% of the total number of posts. The number of job vacancies was the highest in education (1,742), public administration (1,415), and manufacturing (1,209).
50,365 persons were hired during this period. “Compared with the second quarter last year, there has been a decrease in the number of people leaving their job, including at the initiative of the employer. The number of people hired has also fallen slightly,“ the analyst noted.
The highest numbers of new hires were recorded in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and construction. Labour flows are characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged employees and employees who left) which decreased by 6% compared with the second quarter of 2023.
Voolens added that 6,027 people, or 13% of the 48,204 people who left their job during the period, did so at the employer's initiative. “The highest numbers of employees who left work in the second quarter were seen in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and education,“ she pointed out.
76% of job vacancies were in Harju county, most of them in the city of Tallinn (67%) and 9% elsewhere in Harju county. These were followed by Tartu and Ida-Viru counties.
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. Data on job vacancies are collected by Statistics Estonia with the questionnaire "Wages and salaries and labour force".
Number of job vacancies – the quarterly average calculated based on three months' data, as at the end of each month
Rate of job vacancies – the share of job vacancies in the total number of jobs
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)