The job vacancy rate in the euro area (EA19) stood at 2.3% in the first quarter of 2019, up from 2.1% in the first quarter of 2018. At the same time, in the EU28, the job vacancy rate was 2.4%, up from 2.2% in the first quarter of 2018, according to data published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

When compared to the previous quarter, the job vacancy rate was stable in the euro area and up 0.1% in the EU28.

In the euro area, the job vacancy rate in the first quarter of 2019 was 2.0% in industry and construction, and 2.6% in services. In the EU28, the rate was 2.2% in industry and construction, and 2.6% in services.

Among member states, the highest job vacancy rates in the first quarter of 2019 were recorded in Czechia (6.4%), Belgium (3.6%) and Germany (3.3%). In contrast, the lowest rates were observed in Greece (0.6%), Spain (0.9%) and Portugal, Ireland and Bulgaria (all 1.0%). The largest year-on-year increases were registered in Czech Republic (+1.6%) and Cyprus (+0.8%).

Separately, Eurostat published data on hourly labour costs which rose by 2.4% in the euro area and by 2.6% in the EU28 in the first quarter of 2019, compared with the same quarter of the previous year.

The two main components of labour costs are wages & salaries and non-wage costs. In the euro area, the cost of wages & salaries per hour worked grew by 2.5% and the non-wage component by 2.2% in the first quarter of 2019. In the EU28, the costs of hourly wages & salaries rose by 2.7% and the non-wage component rose by 2.1% in the first quarter of 2019.