The number of job vacancies fell by a quarter in a year
According to Statistics Estonia, in the first quarter of 2020, there were 8,613 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. Compared to the first quarter of 2019, the number decreased by 25%.
The total number of vacant and occupied posts was 609,211. The economic activities of manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and education held the largest shares in the total number of posts. The most job vacancies were in the economic activities of manufacturing (1,244), public administration and defence (1,109), education (1,040), and human health and social work activities (1,020).
According to Argo Tarkiainen, analyst at Statistics Estonia, the rate of job vacancies, which is the share of job vacancies in the total number of posts, was 1.4%. Of all job vacancies, 40% were in the public sector. “The rate of job vacancies was highest in public administration and defence (2.9%) and lowest in mining and quarrying (0.1%)” said Tarkiainen.
Most of the vacant posts were in Harju county (81%), including Tallinn (69%), followed by Tartu county (6.7%) and Pärnu county (2.4%). The rate of job vacancies was highest in Harju county (1.9%), followed by Valga (1.5%) county, and lowest in Hiiu county (0.2%).
In the first quarter, 44,215 persons were hired and 42,312 persons left work. Labour turnover (the total number of engaged and left employees), characterising the movement of labour, decreased by 4% compared to the first quarter of 2019. “The number of employees hired as well as the number of employees who left their job were highest in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction. Of all the employees who left their job, 16% left on the employer’s initiative,” added 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.