There were over 11,000 job vacancies in the first quarter
According to Statistics Estonia, in the first quarter of 2023, there were 11,461 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. This is 12% less than in the same quarter of 2022. Over 6,000 persons left their job at the initiative of the employer.
In the first quarter, the total number of vacant and occupied posts was nearly 620,000, whereas the largest share of the posts were in manufacturing, trade, and education. Job vacancies represented 1.9% of the total. The number of job vacancies was the highest in public administration and defence (1,759), human health and social work activities (1,427), and manufacturing (1,372).
Argo Tarkiainen, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that 38% of all job vacancies were in the public sector. “The rate of job vacancies was the highest in public administration and defence and in accommodation and food service activities, and the lowest in agriculture and in construction,” said Tarkiainen.
Most of the vacant posts were in Harju county (72%), including Tallinn city (63%), followed by Tartu county (8.6%) and Ida-Viru county (5.5%). The rate of job vacancies was the highest in Ida-Viru and Valga counties and the lowest in Põlva and Hiiu counties.
In the first quarter, 42,295 persons were hired and 42,773 persons left their job. Labour flows are characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged employees and employees who left) which decreased by 10% compared with the first quarter of 2022. The number of new hires and the number of employees who left their job were both the highest in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and construction.
6,280 employees left their job at the initiative of the employer, which accounted for 15% of all the employees who left work. “The number of employees leaving at the initiative of the employer was 35% higher than in the first quarter of 2022 but it has decreased by 7% compared with the fourth quarter of last year,” added Tarkiainen.
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 job vacancies 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.
For further information:
Helen Maria Raadik
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)