Number of job vacancies further down

There were 101 thousand job vacancies at the end of December 2012, i.e. 7 thousand fewer than at the end of September. The number of vacant jobs declined due to a reduced demand for staff in the private sector. The number of unfilled job vacancies in the private sector was 94 thousand at the end of December. The number of vacancies in the public sector remained stable at 7 thousand. Job vacancy figures are adjusted for seasonal variation.

The number of vacancies per one thousand jobs - the so-called vacancy rate - is an indicator for the tension on the labour market. The vacancy rate declined and was 12 at the end of December versus 13 at the end of September.

In the fourth quarter, the labour market was less dynamic than one year previously; 145 thousand new vacancies were created, i.e. 22 thousand fewer than one year previously. The number of new vacancies reached the lowest level in nine years. The number of filled vacancies was 156 thousand, a reduction by 25 thousand relative to the fourth quarter of 2011.

Job vacancies, seasonally adjusted

Vacancy indicator virtually unchanged in February

The vacancy indicator provides a quick indication of the current trend in job vacancies. The vacancy  indicator was about the same in February as in Januari. In the private sector, pessimists have outnumbered optimists for nearly two years now.

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.