In the euro area, the job vacancy rate decreased to 2.4%, both compared to 2.5% in the first three months of 2024 and 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to the European Statistical Service.
In the EU, the job vacancy rate slowed both compared to 2.6% in the corresponding period of the previous year and 2.3% in the previous quarter.
The European Statistical Service reported that the highest job vacancy rates in the first quarter of 2025 were recorded in the Netherlands (4.2%) and Belgium (4.1%), followed by Austria (3.6%).
The lowest rates were observed in Romania (0.6%) and Poland (0.8%), followed by Bulgaria and Spain (0.9% each).
Year on year, the indicator increased in five member states, remained stable in two, and decreased in 20.
The largest increases were recorded in Lithuania (0.2 percentage points), followed by Bulgaria, Denmark, Ireland, and Portugal (0.1 percentage points each).
The most significant declines were seen in Greece and Austria (both -0.9 percentage points), followed by Germany and Sweden (both -0.8 percentage points).
