This article gives an overview of developments in the relationship between the job vacancy rate (JVR) and the unemployment rate (UR) in the European Union (EU). The most rent developments in job vacancy statistics are analysed here and in the unemployment rate here.
The Beveridge curve reflts the negative relationship between vacancies and unemployment. Fluctuations in aggregate demand generate movements along the curve. During contractions of the onomy, there are few vacancies and high unemployment, while during expansions there are more vacancies and the unemployment rate is low.

Structural changes in the onomy can also generate outward or inward shifts in the Beveridge curve. In the first case, concurrent increases in the vacancy and unemployment rates can be identified at times of uneven growth across regions or industries when the matching efficiency between labour supply and demand dreases. In the case of inward shifts, concurrent dreases in the vacancy and unemployment rates can be observed when the matching efficiency of the labour market improves. This could be, for example, due to a better flow of information on job vacancies thanks to the internet.
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The empirical analysis of the curve can be challenging, as both movements along the curve and shifts might take place at the same time with different intensities.
To show a clearer picture, we averaged JVR figures over four quarters (e.g. the figure for the sond quarter of 2022 is calculated as an average of 2021Q3, 2021Q4, 2022Q1 and 2022Q2 and so forth for the other quarters). Consistently, we also averaged URs based on quarterly LFS data over four quarters. As a consequence, figures used in this publication differ from those mentioned in other Eurostat releases.
Figure 1 displays the Beveridges curves of the euro area and of the EU. We observe that the Beveridge curve of the euro area is outward shifted compared with the EU curve. This indicates that job-seekers and vacant posts better match in non-euro area countries (see also Figure 2). The 2008-2009 worldwide ression and the ensuing sovereign debt crisis had a major impact on the EU labour markets with the unemployment rate soaring and job vacancies plummeting at the same time. From 2010 to 2013 and most notably over the 2010-2011 period, there was a significant outward shift in the Beveridge curves that may reflt disparities across EU Member States: most of the job vacancies were created in countries with comparatively low unemployment. From 2014 onwards, we can observe movements along the Beveridge curve caused by an increase of the job vacancy rates in the euro area and the EU going along with a drease in the unemployment rates in both areas. As of the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 crisis translated into a marked drease in job vacancy rates with a reduced impact on unemployment rates, probably bause the stors most hit by the crisis (e.g. NACE rev. 2 stion I: 'Accommodation and food service activities') were also those with the highest difficulties to rruit. This trend continued until 2020Q4 when the job vacancy rates started increasing again. This rise continued until 2021Q2 which closed the loop caused by the COVID-19 crisis, with both the job vacancy and the unemployment rates reaching their pre-pandemic levels. This would indicate that labour markets quickly rovered from the COVID-19 crisis with no impact on the overall matching between labour supply and demand. From 2021Q3 onwards, we observe a further increase in job vacancy rates but with poorer matching (outward shift of the curve).
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As a further step in the analysis, one can plot the JVR and the UR of a given country at a given moment in time. This provides insights on job matching in national labour markets. As can be seen in Figure 2, the countries cluster in different groups. At the upper end of the regression curve are Czhia, Germany and the Netherlands with rather low unemployment and high vacancy rates, while at the lower end of the curve are Gree and Spain with high unemployment and low vacancy rates. The countries above the curve may have a comparatively poorer matching efficiency than countries situated below. It must be noted that job vacancy statistics do not cover the whole onomy in Denmark, France and Italy which may impact the JVR/UR relationship.
The basis for this analysis are quarterly data on unemployment, vacancies and occupied posts. Quarterly data on job vacancies and occupied posts may be presented as broken down by onomic activity and enterprise size. The national statistical authorities responsible for compiling job vacancy statistics send these statistics to Eurostat. Their data are used to compile the job vacancy rate for the EU Member States, the EU and the euro area.
Some of the data provided by the EU Member States fail to match common criteria and there may be differences in the coverage of the data between countries, as a result, there are currently no EU totals for the actual numbers of job vacancies or occupied posts. The EU and euro area job vacancy rates are calculated on the basis of the information that is available. It is therefore not possible, at present, to calculate EU or euro area job vacancy rates broken down by onomic activity or size of enterprise.
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The job vacancy rate, in part, reflts the unmet demand for labour, as well as potential mismatches between the skills and availability of those who are unemployed and those sought by employers. Job vacancy statistics are used by the European Commission and the European Central Bank (B) to analyse and monitor the evolution of the labour market at national and European level. These statistics are also a key indicator used for an assessment of the business cycle and for a structural analysis of the onomy.
Policy developments in this area have mainly focused on trying to improve the labour market by more closely matching supply and demand, through:
EU policies in the area of job vacancies aim to improve the functioning of the labour market by trying to more closely match supply and demand. In order to enable job seekers to consult all vacancies publicised in each of the EU Member State's employment services, the European job mobility portal EURES was set up.Use this Online Job Vacancy Rate Calculator to get the desired metric in just a few clicks or download a free template in Excel.
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Job Vacancy Rate Calculator is a ready-to-use excel template to calculate the vacancy rate of any organization, department, or group at a given period of time.
Thus, with this template, you can calculate the vacancy rate in general at a particular date and also the monthly job vacancy rate for every month.
Job Vacancy means the number of unfilled/empty posts for which a company is actively indulged in the recruiting process like advertisements, interviewing, etc from outside the company.
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Moreover, it includes the job posts for which the candidate has already been appointed but not joined the organization and job posts that are approved and open only for internal transfers or promotions.
Job Vacancy Rate means the percentage of empty posts against the total number of the approved posts at a specific time of a company, department, or group.

Thus, the total number of approved posts is the sum of the no. of working employees and empty job posts at the end of the given period.
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We have created a simple and easy Job Vacancy Rate Calculator Excel Template with predefined formulas to help you easily calculate the Job Vacancy Rate for your company.
Therefore, you just need to enter 2 details, one is the number of empty posts and the second is the total number of approved posts. The template will automatically calculate the JVR or Job Vacancy Rate for that particular department or company.
Additioanlly, you can download other useful HR Metrics Templates like Base Salary Increase Rate Calculator, Offer Decline Rate Calculator, Offer Acceptance Rate Calculator, Post Occupancy Rate Calculator, and many more from our website.
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In this section, you can calculate the job vacancy rate on a given date. Hence, enter the required data in the light blue cells and the result will be displayed in the dark blue cell below it.

Secondly, some companies measure job vacancy rates on monthly basis. Thus, enter the number of empty job posts at the end of each month and the total number of approved posts at the end of the month. It will calculate the monthly job vacancy rate for you.
If you have any queries or suggestions please share in the comment section below. I will be more than happy to assist you.
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