Job vacancies, Q1 2015

There were 58 600 job vacancies in the 1st quarter of 2015; 2 400 fewer than the previous year. In mining and quarrying – an industry dominated by the production of oil and gas – the number of job vacancies decreased by 1 100 from the 1st quarter of 2014 to the same quarter of 2015. This is a decrease of 65 per cent. The number of job vacancies in this industry has been decreasing since the end of 2012, but not on such a scale as between the 1st quarter of 2014 and the 1st quarter of 2015.

The number of job vacancies also decreased in public administration and in human health activities – by 1 000 and 1 100 respectively. This corresponds to a decrease of 25 per cent in public administration and 20 per cent in human health activities. In social work activities without accommodation, the number of job vacancies increased by 1 800; a 50 per cent growth.

In line with the decrease in the number of job vacancies, the job vacancy rate decreased from 2.3 per cent in the 1st quarter of 2014 to 2.2 in the same quarter of 2015. The percentage of job vacancies is measured as a percentage of the total number of jobs, i.e. the number of employees and vacancies.

Job vacancy growth in the EU

The job vacancy rate in the EU was 1.7 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2014, up 0.2 percentage points from the same quarter the previous year. The comparison with other countries is based on the 4th quarter of 2014 as the figures for the 1st quarter of 2015 have not yet been published. In addition, agriculture, forestry and fishing are excluded.

The job vacancy rates between countries in the EEA vary considerably. In the 4th quarter of 2014, the job vacancy rate was 0.6 in Spain and 0.8 in Greece. At the same time, the job vacancy rate was 3.2 per cent in Germany and 2.4 in the United Kingdom. By comparison, Norway had a job vacancy rate of 2.0 per cent in the 4th quarter of 2014.