Twice a year, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund conducts a study on the labour market – the labour demand barometer. The study determines which occupations have an abundance and a shortage of workers as well as occupations that are in a balanced state in the labour market. The newest barometer shows that several fields have adjusted to the current economic situation and the labour market reacts quickly to changes.
Livia Laas from the employer service department gave the cook occupation as an example of a field that has seen labour shortages for a long time. “Today, employers are having a less difficult time finding people for that particular job,” said Laas. “The sector was hit by turbulent times and now many establishments have had to close their doors. This has reduced the number of job offers for cooks and reduced the labour shortage.”
The newest study shows that the long-term plan of educating people for IT jobs has been fruitful. The IT sector is currently not suffering from the usual major labour shortage.
The labour demand barometer provides a good overview of the unique characteristics of the labour market on a county level. Laas says that for example, the demand in the service sector in Ida-Virumaa is balanced but in South Estonia, there is a shortage of service sector workers. “In several counties, the labour shortage in the lumber sector has been decreasing,” says Laas. “At the same time, the metal industry is looking to increase their number of workers. Looking at the counties, Ida-Virumaa and South Estonian counties are going through the largest changes in the labour market.”
Currently, there are no occupations with an abundance of workers. It’s somewhat more difficult to find jobs in fields that have gone through automation. In IT development, there are office jobs that require fewer and fewer people. It’s not that difficult for employers to find data entry clerks and office assistants. In addition, the competition is quite tough in occupations that have seen changes in their education and training and where academic education is not as important as it was some years ago – interior designers, decorators, reporters-journalists-editors for online sites.
On the other side of the labour demand barometer – the list of occupations that employers are having a difficult time finding people for – are occupations that require a longer education. ”There is a major labour shortage for many important occupations,” said Laas, “and there is no quick solution to filling those positions. It’s difficult to find medical specialists, teachers, caretakers and nurses.” Laas noted that for many occupations, innovation is the solution, but with these occupations, it is difficult to find quick solutions and help from innovation.
We recommend that you look at the conditions for receiving the degree study allowance paid by the Unemployment Insurance Fund, which helps you to study a new profession in parallel with work, especially in areas where workers are needed in the long term.
“I’m happy that interest in the doctor and pharmacist occupations has increased,” says Laas. “Last year, fewer students were accepted into Tartu University’s pharmacist and doctor programs than there were available spots. This year, the situation has improved.”
The labour demand barometer is available on the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund website.