Skip to main content
invest in estonia

Chatbot

Labour market

Estonia is a success story with regard to successful human capital potential maximization, ranking 15th globally.

  • 6.4% unemployment rate (of persons aged 15–74) 2023
  • 1,832€ average monthly gross salary in 2023
  • 820€ minimum monthly wage for full‑time work
  • 73.9% labour participation rate (of persons aged 15–74) 2023

Recruiting employees

#15globally in human capital potential maximization

As Estonia ranks #1 in unicorns per capita in Europe, there is a big competition for a talented workforce. But we see it as a positive challenge to solve. The country is experiencing a true IT sector and technological start-up boom. Estonia is a successful startup hub – the more tech companies see the environment attractive and want to operate here, the more attractive we are for our talents and also for foreign specialists.

The Estonian labour market can be described by:

  • highly skilled workforce
  • 86% of adults speaking at least one foreign language
  • low unionisation
  • simple and straightforward labour legislation
  • easy hiring processes

Additionally, if employees from abroad are needed, the process for hiring is as simple and straight-forward. Although Estonia has introduced the annual immigration quota for non-EU nationals, there is no limit to startups (incl. founders, developers), IT specialists, and top-level specialists, whose monthly income is at least equal to double the average gross salary in Estonia.

Work in Estonia aims to be a partner for companies in Estonia, that are ready to embrace international specialists into their teams. In addition to relentlessly introducing Estonia as an attractive place to live and work, Work in Estonia also helps to bring international attention to the companies here that are recruiting international talent, and share news, messages, and success stories that are relevant to the target audience. In order to help the companies to find and keep people with exceptional skills from all over the world, Work in Estonia has introduced various services for employers.

Estonia is definitely an attractive destination – a digital and tech-savvy society, where horizontal work culture enables fast advancement. So what makes Estonia a competitive place for working and living? Find out here. In addition, you can use our unique location attractiveness comparison tool to compare Estonia’s investment attractiveness to that of other European countries.

Labour legislation

5 daysstandard work week

The legislation is liberal and offers a lot of flexibility in agreeing on terms and conditions of employment. Regulations regarding employment and labour contracts are regulated by the Employment Contracts Act.

Information on labour taxes can be found here.

When planning to hire from abroad, the For Employers sectionof Work in Estonia can be a useful source of information on different legislation-related issues.

Working time & vacation

8 hoursstandard working time per day

The standard working schedule in Estonia is eight hours a day, five days per week. The duration of one shift may not exceed 12 hours.

Working overtime is allowed by mutual agreement. The working schedule together with overtime cannot exceed an average 48 hours per seven days over a calculation period of four months unless a different calculation period has been provided by law. Employer and employee may agree on a longer working schedule than 48 hours if the working schedule does not exceed, on average, 52 hours per seven days over a calculation period of four months and the agreement is not unfair to the employee. An employee may cancel the agreement at any time, giving two weeks’ advance notice thereof.

The duration of the annual vacation is 28 days, an extended vacation is granted in case of some professions, such as state officials and local government officials, teachers, academic, pedagogical and scientific staff, and others. National holidays and public holidays are not included in the vacation duration calculations. An employee may be granted unpaid leave at his or her request for a period of time established by the agreement of the parties.

Maternity leave – A woman is granted 140 days of pregnancy and maternity leave, which may commence at least 70 days before the estimated birth date of the child. The maternity benefit is paid by the state.

Parental leave – A mother or a father shall be granted parental leave at her or his request for raising a child of up to 3 years of age. The parental benefit is paid by the state. Together the maternity benefit and the parental benefit are paid for a period of 575 days.

Sickness – in case of sickness, the employee can be given up to 182 calendar days of paid sick leave (max 250 days per year). The gross wage during this period is 70% of his or her last years` average salary. The employer pays the wage from the 4th to 8th day of sickness and the state starting the 9th day.

Please see the Work in Estonia webpage for more information on working and living in Estonia.

Salaries

1,832 €average monthly gross salary

The average monthly gross salary in 2023 was 1,832 €. The specific salary information is available from Statistics Estonia.

Wages must be paid at least once a month and the employer should calculate and withhold all payroll taxes.

When hiring, the general standard is a 4-month probation period with a one-day notice period. Long-term employees usually have a one-month notice period. If the working hours are at night (from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am), employers shall pay wages exceeding the regular wages by 1.25 times unless it has been agreed that the wages include remuneration for working at night.

Work during public holidays may be compensated by offering time off or paying two times the wages for the job.

Payment for overtime – additional remuneration per hour of overtime is at least 50% of the hourly wage rate.

Information on labour taxes can be found here.

Labour market

Here are some useful links regarding the labour market:

You are also welcome to send us an enquiry for more specific information.

Doing business in Estonia

News & events

Need more information?

Need more information?

What is it like to run a business in Estonia? How to benefit from the e-solutions and the efficiency of our business culture? What are the opportunities in specific sectors? Who to partner up with?

The Estonian Investment Agency’s team is happy to help you via its complimentary e-Consulting service, organize online or offline follow-up events such as virtual investment visits and guide you through the fairly simple process of investing in Estonia.

Request e-consulting