Number of vacant jobs reaches 7-year high in third quarter
There were a total of approimately 11,000 job vacancies in businesses, institutions and organizations in Estonia in the third quarter of 2016, which is a 7-year high following a 16-percent jump from the previous quarter and a 25-percent increase year over year.
The rate of job vacancies, i.e. the share of job vacancies in the total number of jobs, was 2 percent in the third quarter of 2016, 0.3 percent higher than in the second quarter of 2016 and 0.4 percent higher than in the third quarter of 2015, Statistics Estonia reported.
The rate of job vacancies was the highest in administrative and support service activities, other service activities, information and communication and financial and insurance activities — at 4.3, 3.1, 3 and 3 percent, respectively. The job vacancy rate was lowest in the real estate sector, mining and quarrying, construction, agriculture, forestry and fishing.
The total number of posts and vacant posts remained highest in manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade, while both the total number of jobs and number of vacant jobs were lowest in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, mining and quarrying, electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply.
Compared to the third quarter of 2015, the number of job vacancies grew the most in administrative and support service activities. An above-average year-over-year increase was recorded in education, accommodation and foor service activities as well as in manufacturing. Compared to the same period a year ago, the number of job vacancies fell the most in professional, scientific and technical sectors.
Over two thirds, or 68 percent, of vacant jobs were available in Harju County, with 59 percent of them in the capital of Tallinn, followed by Tartu County with 9 percent and Ida-Viru County with 6 percent. The rate of job vacancies was the highest in Harju County and lowest in Saare and Viljandi Counties.
The private sector accounted for around 7,800, or 70 percent of, job vacancies. In the third quarter of 2016, the rate of job vacancies remained highest in foreign private-sector institutions and state organizations, totaling 2.6 and 2.4 percent, respectively, while the rate of job vacancies was lowest in Estonian private sector organizations.
The movement of labor is characterized by labor turnover, i.e. the total number of engaged employees combined with those who have left, which amounted to 94,000 in the second quarter of 2016 — marking a 29 percent increase compared to the previous quarter and a 22 percent increase compared to the second quarter of 2015. Compared to the second quarter of 2015, the largest increase in labor turnover occurred in professional, scientific and technical activities and in agriculture, forestry and fishing. In the second quarter, both the number of employees hired and the number of employees who left their job were the highest in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and accommodation and food service sectors.
Editor: Editor: Aili Vahtla
Source: BNS