Labour Market Information: Estonia

National level - Estonia

^{* The years referenced in this report vary, as the data is based on the most up-to-date information available for each indicator, as of March 2026.}

Labour market

As of 1 January 2025, about 1.4 million people lived in Estonia. The gross domestic product per inhabitant was EUR 29 000 in 2024, 27.3% lower than the average of EUR 39 900 per inhabitant in the EU27. Between 2018 and 2024, the GDP per capita increased by 45%.

^{Note: nama_10r_2gdp, Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

The employment rate was 81.8%, 6 percentage points higher than the EU27 average and 2.7 percentage points higher compared to 2018. In NA, for women, the employment rate was 80.9%, for men, the employment rate was 82.6%, and for youth, the employment rate was 35.4%, all above the EU average.

^{Note: lfst_r_lfe2emprt, data refer to working age population (15-64), youth age group (15-24)  Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}

In 2024, the unemployment rate was 1.2 percentage points higher than in 2023. In 2024, the unemployment rate returned to the level before the pandemic, when it equaled 5.2% in 2018, and 4.4% in 2019. In 2024, it was 1.7 percentage points higher in Estonia than in the EU27.

In 2024, 85.9% of the active workforce were from Estonia, 1.3% from other EU Member States and 12.8 from third countries. In the EU27, as of 2024, the highest proportion of the workforce comes from the respective country (84.4% on average), while on average a smaller portion is from foreign countries (4.3% from other EU Member States, and 11.3% from third countries).

In 2024, most employees worked in manufacturing (19.8%), followed by wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (19%), construction (10.3%) and professional, scientific and technical activities (8.7%). In terms of number of enterprises, most can be found in professional, scientific and technical activities (19.4%), wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (15.3%), and construction (11.9%).

In Estonia, the highest proportion of employees (40.6%) worked in micro companies with up to 9 employees. These companies accounted for the majority of all enterprises in the country (95.3%) with 147 326 of such businesses. 19.1% of persons employed worked in medium companies with 50 to 249 employees, 18.5% of persons employed worked in large companies with more than 250 employees, 12.6% of persons employed worked in small companies with 20 to 49 employees and 9.2% of persons employed worked in small companies with 10 to 19 employees.

Transnational labour markets and mobility

In 2025, there were approximately 18 000 EU movers of working age residing in Estonia, comprising 2.3% of the working-age population, below the EU-27 average and noting a decrease of 2.2% compared to 2024. They show a predominantly male gender distribution (64% male, 36% female) and are predominantly young (42% aged 20–34). This composition differs from the EU average, where the population of movers shows gender balanced and is predominantly aged 35–49.

Estonia has consistently attracted more EU movers than it has lost across the 2019–2025 period, with a net balance of -408 in 2025. In 2024, inflows and outflows of EU movers both increased compared to the previous year, by 4% and 11% respectively.

Third-country nationals numbered 137 000 in 2025, representing 17.4% of the working-age population and showing a decline of 1.2% from 2024. Combined, EU movers and third-country nationals comprise approximately 19.7% of Estonia’s total working-age population.

Vacancies

In 2024, in Estonia, the occupational groups with the highest occurrence of shortage occupations were: Metal, Machinery and Related Trades Workers, Teaching Professionals and Health Professionals. On the other hand, the occupational groups with the highest occurrence of surplus occupations were: Business and Administration Associate Professionals, General and Keyboard Clerks and Legal, Social and Cultural Professionals.

Read more about labour shortages and surpluses in Europe: Labour shortages and surpluses in Europe | European Labour Authority (europa.eu)

Job vacancy rate

The sectors with the highest vacancy rates were: public administration and defence; compulsory social security; public administration and defence; compulsory social security; administrative and support services; administrative and support services; administrative and support services.

^{Note: jvs_a_rate_r2, Statistics | Eurostat}

The sectors with the highest vacancy rates were: public administration and defence; compulsory social security; public administration and defence; compulsory social security; administrative and support services; administrative and support services; administrative and support services.

^{Note: jvs_a_rate_r2, Statistics | Eurostat}

Widely used job portals

Wages

Minimum wage

As of 1 January 2026, the statutory minimum wage in Estonia was set at 886 EUR. Collective bargaining in Estonia is low at 19.1%.

Monthly average gross and net earnings

In 2024, the gross average earnings of a single person stood at EUR 1994, while the EU27 average was EUR 3 603. The equivalent net wage was EUR 1 585 in Estonia, compared to EUR 2474 in the EU27. Compared to 2019, gross average earnings increased by 42.3% in Estonia and by 22.8% in the EU27. During the same period, the net wages have increased by 34.2% in Estonia and by 24.5% in the EU27.

^{Note: earn_nt_net, Single person earning 100% average, annual rates transformed into 12 monthly payments. Statistics | Eurostat (europa.eu)}