The number of job vacancies was still over 10,000
According to Statistics Estonia, in the fourth quarter of 2021, there were 11,103 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. This is 28% more than in the same quarter of 2020. About 7,500 persons left their jobs on the employer’s initiative.
Last year, the total number of vacant and occupied posts was nearly 615,000. The biggest share of these posts were in manufacturing, trade and education. Vacant posts accounted for 1.8% of the total number of posts, with the number of job vacancies being the highest in wholesale and retail trade (1,669), manufacturing (1,638) and education (1,365).
Argo Tarkiainen, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that 35% of all job vacancies were in the public sector. “The rate of job vacancies was the highest in information and communication and in financial and insurance activities, and the lowest in agriculture and in mining and quarrying,” he added.
Most of the vacant posts were in Harju county (81%), including Tallinn city (70%), followed by Tartu county (5.7%) and Pärnu county (3.8%). The rate of job vacancies was the highest in Harju and Lääne counties and the lowest in Põlva and Hiiu counties.
In the fourth quarter, 40,540 persons were hired and 49,469 persons left work. Labour flows are characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged employees and employees who left) which increased by 10% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. “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. 7,396 employees left their job on the employer’s initiative, which represented 15% of all the employees who left work,” said 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:
Kadri Kütt
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181