In the 2nd quarter, the number of job vacancies increased

The total number of posts (vacant and occupied) was 602,200 in the 2nd quarter of 2018, increasing by 1% compared to the previous quarter. The economic activities of manufacturing (18%), wholesale and retail trade (15%) and education (10%) continued to have the largest shares in the total number of posts. Manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade are the biggest employers in Estonia – in the 2nd quarter of 2018, the number of job vacancies was highest in these activities (1,810 and 1,750 vacancies, respectively). Wholesale and retail trade were followed by education with 1,100 vacant posts.

The rate of job vacancies, i.e. the share of job vacancies in the total number of posts, was 1.9% in the 2nd quarter of 2018, which is 0.1 percentage points higher than in the 1st quarter of 2018 and 0.2 percentage points lower than in the 2nd quarter of 2017.

In the 2nd quarter, the rate of job vacancies was highest in financial and insurance activities (4.7%) and administrative and support services activities (3.0%). The rate of job vacancies was lowest in real estate activities (0.2%) and in mining and quarrying (0.4%).

Most of the vacant posts were available in Harju county (67%), including Tallinn (55%), followed by Tartu county (11%) and Ida-Viru and Pärnu counties (5% in each). The rate of job vacancies was highest in Lääne (3.2%) and Põlva (2.4%) counties and lowest in Hiiu county (0.5%).

In the 2nd quarter, 28% of the vacant posts were in the public sector. The rate of job vacancies was highest in enterprises owned by foreign private entities (2.6%) and in municipal institutions and enterprises (2.2%). The rate of job vacancies was 2.0% in state institutions and enterprises and 1.5% in enterprises owned by Estonian private entities.

The movement of labour is characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged and left employees), which amounted to approximately 113,500 in the 2nd quarter of 2018, denoting a 25% increase compared to the previous quarter and a 20% increase compared to the 2nd quarter of 2017. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2018, the largest increase in labour turnover occurred in mining and quarrying, and there was a decrease only in professional, scientific and technical activities. In the 2nd quarter of 2018, both the number of employees hired and the number of employees who left their job were highest in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction.

Statistics Estonia conducts the vacant and occupied posts and labour turnover survey since 2005. From 2018, data about job vacancies are collected with the new questionnaire “Wages and salaries and labour force”. In 2018, the sample includes 8,350 enterprises, institutions and organisations, and non-profit organisations with less than 50 employees were included in the population.

From 2018, Statistics Estonia uses the data of the employment register of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board to estimate the number of occupied posts and labour turnover.

Until 2018, the number of vacant and occupied posts were published as on the 15th day of the second month of a quarter. Since 2018, the quarterly average number of job vacancies and occupied posts is published as at the end of the month. The number of job vacancies is the quarterly average number of job vacancies as at the end of the month. A job vacancy is a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied or becomes vacant when an employee leaves and for which the employer is actively trying to find a suitable candidate from outside the enterprise, institution or organisation concerned.

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.

From 2018, data by county are published according to the new administrative division.