In the third quarter, the number of job vacancies decreased by a fifth year on year
According to Statistics Estonia, in the third quarter of 2024, there were 9,905 job vacancies in the enterprises, institutions and organisations of Estonia. This is 18% less than in the same quarter last year. In the third quarter, 5,819 persons left their job at the initiative of the employer.
“In the third quarter, the total number of vacant and occupied posts was a little under 604,000. The majority of the posts were in manufacturing, trade, and education,” said Sigrid Saagpakk, analyst at Statistics Estonia.
Vacant posts accounted for 1.6% of the total number of posts. The number of job vacancies was the highest in education (1,674), trade (1,322), and public administration and defence (1,278).
The number of people leaving their job was the greatest in wholesale and retail trade. The number of people hired was the highest in education.
The number of people leaving their job at the initiative of the employer was 5,819 in the third quarter, which is similar to the third quarter last year. These people represented about 10% of all those who left their job. The biggest numbers of people leaving their job at the initiative of the employer were registered in education (1,125 persons) and manufacturing (1,064). “In the third quarter of 2024, the number of people leaving their job at their own or the employer’s initiative was the biggest in wholesale and retail trade where 9,796 persons left their job,” added Saagpakk.
55,766 persons were hired during this period. “Compared with the third quarter of 2023, the number of new hires was down by over 1,600,” explained Saagpakk.
The highest numbers of new hires were recorded in education, wholesale and retail trade, and manufacturing. Labour flows are characterised by labour turnover (the total number of engaged employees and employees who left) which decreased by 4% compared with the third quarter of 2023.
In the third quarter of 2024, the majority of job vacancies were in Harju county (80.7% of all job vacancies), followed by Tartu county (6.8%). 2.3% of job vacancies were in Pärnu county and 2.1% in Ida-Viru county.
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. Data on job vacancies are collected by Statistics Estonia with the questionnaire "Wages and salaries and labour force".
Job vacancy – a paid post that is newly created, unoccupied or about to become vacant, for which the employer is taking active steps and is prepared to take further steps to find a suitable candidate from outside the enterprise/institution/organisation concerned, and which the employer intends to fill either immediately or within a specific period of time.
Number of job vacancies – the quarterly average calculated based on three months' data, as at the end of each month.
Rate of job vacancies – the share of job vacancies in the total number of jobs.
The quarterly average number of vacant 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.
More detailed data have been published in the statistical database.
See also the dedicated section on wages and salaries and labour costs.
When using Statistics Estonia’s data and graphs, please indicate the source.
For further information:
Heidi Kukk
Media Relations Manager
Marketing and Dissemination Department
Statistics Estonia
Tel +372 625 9181
press [at] stat.ee (press[at]stat[dot]ee)