The job vacancy rate in the euro area (EA19) was 1.9% in the first quarter of 2017, up from 1.7% recorded in both the previous quarter and the first quarter of 2016.

In the EU28, the job vacancy rate was also 1.9% in the first quarter of 2017, up from 1.8% recorded in both the previous quarter and the first quarter of 2016.

In the euro area, the job vacancy rate in the first quarter of 2017 was 1.5% in industry and construction, and 2.2% in services. In the EU28, the rate was 1.6% in industry and construction, and 2.2% in services.

The highest job vacancy rates in the first quarter of 2017 were recorded in the Czech Republic (3.1%), Belgium (2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2016), Finland and Sweden (both 2.7%) as well as Germany (2.6%).

In contrast, the lowest rates were observed in Spain (0.8%), Portugal (0.9%), Bulgaria, Ireland, Greece, Poland and Slovakia (all 1.0%).

Compared with the same quarter of the previous year the job vacancy rate in the first quarter of 2017 rose in twenty Member States and remained stable in seven.

The largest increases were registered in Belgium (+0.7%), the Czech Republic (+0.6%) and Estonia (+0.5%).

Source: InCyprus