In the 4th quarter the number of job vacancies decreased

Photo: Arvo Meeks / Lõuna-Eesti Postimees

According to Statistics Estonia, there were 6,400 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia in the 4th quarter of 2013. Their number decreased by 3.4% compared to the same period of 2012, and by a fourth compared to the previous quarter.

The rate of job vacancies was 1.2% in the 4th quarter. The rate of job vacancies is the share of job vacancies in the total number of jobs (sum of occupied posts and vacancies).

The rate of job vacancies was the highest in information and communication activities (2.3%) and the lowest in mining and quarrying (0.2%).  

The increase in the number of job vacancies was the biggest in manufacturing, where there were 1.4 times more vacancies compared to the 4th quarter of 2012.

56% of job vacancies and occupied posts are in Harju county (incl. Tallinn). The rate of job vacancies was the highest in Pärnu county (2.5%), but only 5% of all jobs (job vacancies and occupied posts total) are in Pärnu county.

25% of the job vacancies were in the public sector and 75% in the private sector. The rate of job vacancies was 1.1% in the public sector and 1.3% in the private sector. The public sector also includes companies owned by the state or local government.

Rate of job vacancies, 1st quarter 2005 – 4th quarter 2013

In the 3rd quarter of 2013, 81,200 employees were engaged and left their jobs in total (labour turnover). The labour turnover increased by 4.7% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2012.

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 data are based on the job vacancies and labour turnover survey conducted by Statistics Estonia since 2005. In 2013, the sample included 11,740 enterprises, institutions and organisations.