According to the latest data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, the job vacancy rate in the euro area decreased to 2.7% in the fourth quarter of 2023, marking a decline from 2.9% in the previous quarter and 3.1% in the same period of 2022. Similarly, within the EU, the job vacancy rate dropped to 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2023, down from 2.6% in the previous quarter and 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022.
In the euro area, the job vacancy rate during the fourth quarter of 2023 stood at 2.5% in the industry and construction sectors and 3.0% in services. Meanwhile, within the EU, the rates were 2.3% in industry and construction and 2.7% in services.
Analyzing job vacancy rates across Member States with comparable data (refer to country notes), Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany recorded the highest rates in the fourth quarter of 2023, ranging from 4.4% to 3.9%. Conversely, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Poland, Ireland, and Slovakia reported the lowest rates, ranging from 0.7% to 1.1%.
In comparison to the same period the previous year, the job vacancy rate increased in five Member States, remained stable in three, and decreased in nineteen. Noteworthy increases were observed in Cyprus, Greece, and Malta, while notable decreases were noted in Austria, Luxembourg, and Czechia.
Geographical information
Euro area (EA20): Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
European Union (EU27): Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.