Job vacancies, Q4 2012

During the last three quarters, the survey on job vacancies shows a decrease in the number of job vacancies compared to the same quarters the previous year. The job vacancy rate was 2.3 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2012, down 0.2 percentage points from the 3rd quarter of 2011.

Decrease in residential care activities, growth in public administration

The number of job vacancies in residential care activities decreased by 3 200 from the 4th quarter of 2011 to the 4th quarter of 2012. This decrease took place in all quarters of 2012. Despite the decrease, this industry still has one of the highest job vacancy rates. Also in professional, scientific and technical activities and construction there were a decrease in job vacancies during the last quarter. In these industries, the number of job vacancies was reduced by 1 900 and 1000 respectively. In accommodation and food service activities however, there were a growth of 900 job vacancies from the 4th quarter of 2011 to the same quarter in 2012.

Still most job vacancies in administrative and support service activities

There was an increase in the number of job vacancies in administrative and support service activities in the 4th quarter of 2012. The 9 000 job vacancies in this industry correspond to 5.9 per cent of all the posts in the industry. Domestic trade had 6 300 job vacancies in the 4th quarter of 2012, corresponding to a job vacancy rate of 1.7 per cent. The 4 900 job vacancies in residential care activities correspond to a rate of 3.3 per cent.

Continued high job vacancy rate in Germany

The job vacancy rate in Germany was 2.3 per cent in the 3rd quarter of 2012. Germany has one of the highest job vacancy rates in the EU, a position the country has held for the last couple of years. In comparison, the EU countries combined had a job vacancy rate of 1.4 per cent in the 3rd quarter of 2012. In Norway, the job vacancy rate was 2.4 per cent during the same period. The comparison with other countries is based on the 3rd quarter of 2012 as the figures for the 4th quarter have not yet been published.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing are excluded from this international comparison. More information is available on Eurostat’s website: Job vacancies .