The 3 key skills Estonian companies are looking for from employees

Text Mark Taylor
Photo fauxels / Pexels

According to a survey conducted by Statistics Estonia, three key skills were the most in demand by Estonian companies when looking for new staff.

1. Technical, Practical, or Job-Specific Skills

Technical skills, which include specialised knowledge and abilities related to specific occupations—such as operating machinery or using tools—were deemed vital by 60 per cent of Estonian enterprises. This contrasts with the European Union (EU) average, where 43 per cent of enterprises highlight these skills as crucial.

2. Team Working Skills

Team working skills were recognised as important by 42 per cent of Estonian enterprises, aligning closely with the EU average. These skills are universally valued across various sectors, with companies in nine EU countries even ranking this skill as the most important.

3. Customer Handling Skills

Customer handling skills are highlighted by 31 per cent of Estonian enterprises, slightly below the EU average of 37 per cent. The importance of these skills varies significantly by sector, being crucial in wholesale and retail, transportation, and accommodation and food services, but less so in other sectors such as construction.

Additional skills noted by enterprises included problem-solving (24 per cent), general IT skills (19 per cent), and management skills (17 per cent), with the latter being especially important for larger organisations. Among large enterprises with 250 or more employees, 47 per cent emphasised the need for strong management skills.

The Continuing Vocational Training Survey, which gathers data on ongoing vocational training in EU enterprises, is conducted every five years.

To learn more about this and similar topics
Continuing Vocational Training Survey Customer Handling Employee Competencies Survey Essential Skills for Employees Estonian Entreprises Skills Team Working Technical Skills in Estonia