The increase in the number of job vacancies continued in the 2nd quarter

The rate of job vacancies in the 2nd quarter was 1.6%. The rate of job vacancies is the share of job vacancies in the total number of jobs (sum of occupied posts and vacancies).

For the second quarter in a row, the rate of job vacancies was the highest in information and communication (3.3%) and the lowest in agriculture, forestry and fishing (0.6%).

Compared to the 2nd quarter of 2011, the rate of job vacancies increased the fastest in accommodation and food service activities and in the activity of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (by 1.5 percentage points in either activity).

The increase in the number of job vacancies was the biggest in accommodation and food service activities, where there were over two times more vacancies, compared to the 2nd quarter of 2011.

27% of the job vacancies were in the public sector and 73% in the private sector. The rate of job vacancies was 1.5% in the public sector and 1.6% in the private sector. The public sector includes companies owned by the state or local government.

Rate of job vacancies, 1st quarter 2005 – 2nd quarter 2012

In the 1st quarter of 2012, more than 58,300 employees were engaged and left their jobs in total (labour turnover). The increase in labour turnover was 13.2% compared to the same period of the previous year.

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 2012, the sample includes nearly 11,700 enterprises, institutions and organisations.