Job vacancies rise slightly
At the end of December 2013, there were nearly 97 thousand job vacancies, compared with 94 thousand at the end of September. The number of job vacancies increased for the second consecutive quarter. Vacancy figures are adjusted for seasonal variation.
The number of job vacancies increased across nearly all sectors of private industry, while in the public sector it remained stable. At the end of December, there were 89 thousand vacancies in the private sector and 8 thousand in the public sector.
The number of vacancies per one thousand jobs, the vacancy rate, is an indicator for the tension on the labour market. The vacancy rate remained unchanged at 12 at the end of December, the same as at the end of September and the end of June. The vacancy rate is not adjusted for seasonal variation.
In the fourth quarter of 2013, there were 146 thousand new vacancies, i.e. one thousand more than one year previously; 149 thousand vacancies were filled in the fourth quarter, 7 thousand fewer than in the fourth quarter of 2012.
Job vacancies, seasonally adjusted
Vacancy indicator improves further
The vacancy indicator provides a quick indication of the trend in job vacancies in the private sector. The indicator improved further in March and reached the highest level in nearly three years. The mood lifted across the board. Optimism prevails in the sectors manufacturing industry and construction, but in the sector commercial services pessimists still outnumber optimists.
Vacancy indicator
More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.
For more information on economic indicators, the reader is referred to the Economic Monitor.