According to the Department of Statistics, in the second quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate was 7.6%, the employment rate was 69.7%, and the labor force participation rate was 75.4%. Department of Statistics analyst Tea Vassiljeva explained that compared to the previous quarter, the number of unemployed people decreased by 1,100 people: “Compared to the second quarter of last year, there are 7,600 more unemployed people. The unemployment rate was 7.6%, i.e. 0.2 percentage points lower than in the first quarter.” The analyst explained that unemployment has increased most noticeably among young people, i.e. people aged 15–24. "Compared to the first quarter, the number of unemployed young people increased by 5,500, and compared to the second quarter of last year, by 4,800," she said, adding that the number of people who had been unemployed for a year or more had also increased. There were 4,200 fewer unemployed people aged 25-49 in the second quarter than in the first, but in annual comparison, there were still 6,100 more. "Among the 50-74 year olds, the number of unemployed decreased both quarterly and compared to last year. The unemployment rate among men and women in the second quarter was approximately the same: 7.6% among men and 7.5% among women," Vasilyeva specified. The number of employed increased in all sectors over the quarter Compared to the first quarter, the number of employed people increased by 13,200 people. Compared to the same period last year, employment increased by 11,700 people. The employment rate, i.e. the share of employed people, among persons aged 15–74 was 69.7%, which is 0.5 percentage points higher than a year earlier and 1.3 percentage points higher than in the first quarter of this year. “The number of employed people increased in all sectors during the quarter. 6,900 people were added to industry and construction, 5,200 to the service sector and 1,000 to the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector,” she said. “However, if we look only at hired workers, their number has decreased slightly in industry and construction compared to the first quarter. Compared to the previous year, the number of people employed in industry and construction has decreased by 5,800, while employment in other sectors has increased,” the analyst said. Regionally, employment figures increased in Harju County (but not in Tallinn), Ida-Viru County and Southern Estonia during the quarter, while they decreased primarily in Tallinn and Western Estonia. The increase in the number of employed people was primarily due to entrepreneurs. If a year ago, entrepreneurs made up 10.6% of all employed people, then in the second quarter of this year their share was 13.4%. The influx of labor into the market continues The labor force participation rate, which shows what share of the population aged 15–74 is economically active, that is, works (refers to the employed) or wants to work and is looking for work (refers to the unemployed), has been increasing for the third quarter in a row, exceeding the 75% threshold for the first time in the second quarter of this year. “This is 1.2 percentage points higher than in the previous quarter, as well as a year earlier — both figures were 74.2%. At the same time, the number of inactive people in the labor market has decreased. Compared to the first quarter, there are 12,100 fewer inactive people. Compared to the second quarter of last year, there are 9,600 fewer of them,” Vasilyeva noted. The labour force statistics cover permanent residents of Estonia who have lived or plan to live in Estonia for at least one year. The number of war refugees from Ukraine with temporary protection covered by the labour force survey is insufficient to provide estimates for them. More statistics on Ukrainians employed in the Estonian labour market are available in the quick statistics section of Statistics Estonia. More detailed data is published in the statistical database, the labour force section and the labour market application tooturg.stat.ee, developed by Statistics Estonia and the Ministry of Social Affairs. NB! Starting from 15 May 2024, annual and quarterly data in the labour market section will be published in separate tables. Detailed information is available on the homepage of Statistics Estonia. Read RusDelfi wherever it is convenient for you. Follow us on Facebook, Telegram, Instagram and even TikTok.
