The number of job vacancies remains over 10,000

The number of job vacancies increased by 4% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2018 and by 6% compared to the 2nd quarter of 2019.

The total number of vacant and occupied posts was 609,126, which is nearly 0.3% less than in the previous quarter. The economic activities of manufacturing (18%), wholesale and retail trade (15%) and education (10%) continue to hold the largest shares in the total number of posts. Manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and education are also the biggest employers in Estonia – in the 3rd quarter of 2019, there were 2,050 job vacancies in wholesale and retail trade, 1,473 job vacancies in education and 1,407 job vacancies in manufacturing. These activities were followed by public administration and defence with 1,125 vacant posts.

The rate of job vacancies, i.e. the share of job vacancies in the total number of posts was 2% in the 3rd quarter of 2019, which is 0.1 percentage points higher than in the 3rd quarter of 2018. The rate of job vacancies was highest in information and communication (3.1%) and in public administration and defence (2.9%), and lowest in mining and quarrying and real estate activities (both 0.2%).

Vacant posts in the public sector accounted for 31% of all job vacancies. The rate of job vacancies was highest in municipal institutions and enterprises (2.7%). In state institutions and enterprises, the rate was 2.2%, and in enterprises owned by Estonian and foreign private entities, 1.6% and 2.3%, respectively.

Most of the vacant posts were in Harju county (75%), incl. Tallinn (63%), followed by Tartu county (8%) and Pärnu county (3%). The rate of job vacancies was highest in Harju (2.6%) and Võru (1.8%) counties and lowest in Hiiu (0.2%) and Lääne-Viru (0.5%) counties. 

The movement of labour is characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged and left employees), which amounted to nearly 118,000 in the 3rd quarter of 2019. Labour turnover increased by 18% on the same period of the previous year and by 2% on the previous quarter. Both the number of employees hired and the number of employees who left their job remained highest in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction. 9% of all the employees who left their job left on the employer’s initiative.

Statistics Estonia has conducted the vacant and occupied posts and labour turnover survey since 2005. In 2019, the sample includes 8,300 enterprises, institutions and organisations, and also non-profit organisations and foundations with less than 50 employees have been included in the population.

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.

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 seeking 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.