Number of job vacancies slightly down

The number of job vacancies decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the previous quarter. At the end of March, 242 thousands jobs were vacant, 7 thousand down on the quarter before. The figures have been corrected for seasonal effects.

The number of job vacancies still remains high. At the end of September 2007 the number reached a new record of 253 thousand. Since then, it has decreased slightly.

Compared with one year previously, the number of job vacancies was still higher in the first quarter. Companies with 100 or more employees had 10 thousand more vacant jobs and medium-sized companies 4 thousand more. The number of vacant jobs at small businesses decreased slightly, however.

For the first time in four years the labour market was less dynamic than twelve months previously. In the first quarter of 2008, 275 thousand new vacancies were created, 18 thousand fewer than twelve months previously. The number of filled vacancies was 266 thousand, 9 thousand down on one year previously.

Job vacancies, seasonally adjusted