Fewer job vacancies
There were 109 thousand job vacancies at the end of June 2012, i.e. 9 thousand fewer than at the end of March. The number of job vacancies fell for the fourth quarter in a row. Job vacancy figures are adjusted for seasonal variation.
The number of job vacancies decreased in nearly all sectors. The most substantial drop was recorded in the commercial services sector. The number of vacancies in health care, education and the financial sector remained stable.
The number of vacancies per one thousand jobs - the so-called vacancy rate - is an indicator for the degree of tension on the labour market. The vacancy rate was 15 at the end of June, the same as at the end of March.
The labour market was less dynamic. In the second quarter, 179 thousand new vacancies were created, i.e. 31 thousand fewer than in second quarter of 2011. The number of filled or terminated vacancies amounted to 181 thousand, i.e. 21 thousand fewer than in the second quarter of 2011.
Job vacancies, seasonally adjusted
Vacancy indicator deteriorates further in August
The vacancy indicator provides a quick indication of the current trend in vacancies. The indicator deteriorated marginally in August compared to the preceding month. In the private sector, pessimists still outnumber optimists and the gap has widened over the past few months.
Vacancy indicator
More figures can be found in dossier Business cycle.