OSKA forecasts the need for Estonian labour force and skills

OSKA studies help people make informed career choices and to formulate forward-looking employment and education policies.

OSKA studies are conducted by the Estonian Qualifications Authority (Kutsekoda)

OSKA sectors and findings

More about sectors

Experts involved in the research

“The leap into an innovative economy will create the right conditions for our development into a prosperous country with happy and satisfied citizens.”

Ivo Suursoo

IT entrepreneur, chairman of the board at OIXIO and Columbus; head of the Innovation Start-Up Chamber of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation; member of the Estonian Research and Development Supervisory Board

“The high-tech industry of tomorrow depends on the talents taking robotics courses today. In order to raise a new generation of tech-savvy young people in Estonia, we need to cultivate and sustain an interest in technology from an early age. This also requires consistent cooperation between industry, IT and the creative sector.”

Veljo Konnimois

Founder of Radius Machining OÜ, chairman of the Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry Supervisory Board, head of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation education working group

“Agriculture and food production are based on tradition and experience, but keywords also include knowledge, innovation, state-of-the-art technology and data science. Modern solutions also make the sector more attractive for young people.”

Roomet Sõrmus

Former chairman of the Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce

“Estonia has the potential to be a global pioneer in the biological and timber industries, thereby making a positive contribution to the green transition. All the necessary prerequisites are in place. Innovative and sustainable solutions require cross-sectoral cooperation so that the best solutions can be developed locally.”

Peep Pitk

PhD, research and development manager and member of the board at Fibenol

“The best, most affordable and sustainable social work is the social work that is prevented. Life in the community should be organised in such a manner that everyone can live a long and healthy life and be self-reliant for as long as possible. This means a tight-knit community where everyone feels safe and is able to fulfil their potential and where those in need are noticed and supported.”

Maarjo Mändmaa

Secretary Generaly of the Ministry of Social Affairs

“The need for understanding the principles of different sectors, seeing the root problems of complex questions, and analysing them to develop appropriate solutions is highlighted in the conclusions of the OSKA ICT sector survey. If we take such a direction, we can benefit much more from technology in the future.”

Ivo Lasn

Director of Playtech Estonia, Board Member of the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications

“Formal education offers the workers of personal services necessary professional training to provide services that are safe and high-quality. With additional training it is possible to expand the knowledge and selection of services, but before choosing a training course, one must get familiar with the trainer’s background, the curriculum and requirements, so that the course would live up to the expectations. ”

Piret Kesküla

Estonian Beauticians Association

“Financial sector offers exciting opportunities to people who are good with numbers and have analytical skills. ”

Madis Müller

Governor of Eesti Pank

“The state and local governments must be responsible for our nationhood while offering the world’s best public services. Residents must have such expectations to their government because the state is for the people, but at the same time it needs great employees to function. ”

Raido Roop

Head of Public Administration and Public Service Department at the Estonian Ministry of Finance

“The pillars of safe society are adaptability and smart solutions. At the same time, the organisations that provide security have to offer competitive, modern and flexible work environment where everyone’s input is noticed and personal development is supported”

Veiko Kommusaar

Undersecretary for Internal Security, Migration and Public Order at the Ministry of the Interior

“We need to focus on and support facility management to ensure a better real estate environment. This field needs more qualified workers who have a good knowledge of technical systems and constructions and know how to manage and maintain them. At the same time, the awareness of real estate owners should be raised about the cooperation with service providers. In that way, professional and informed facility management is created.”

Jüri Kröönström

Executive Director of the Estonian Facility Management Association

“Employers are looking for broad-minded employees with master’s degree in law, who in addition to good practical skills have an outstanding base of knowledge of law and legal system and excellent analytical skills.”

Kai Härmand

Deputy Secretary General at the Ministry of Justice

“The transition to circular economy requires reorganising the management of natural resources, also a new direction in the design and manufacturing of products and the reuse of waste in more areas. To implement those aspects, companies and organisations need qualified employees.”

Erik Kosenkranius

Deputy General Director at the Environmental Board

“More than ever we are connected to the stories that we see on the screens either at work or in our free time. We create those stories, or we follow others and share their stories. Thus, we are all a part of the colourful global media industry as creators and readers. ”

Andres Jõesaar

Vice-Rector for Creative Activities and Cooperation at Tallinn University

“What takes baby woodpecker up to the tree? The internal force – the fact that it is a woodpecker not a chicken, badger or dog. In the same way, people active in the field of culture and creative industries wish to be part of the cultural creation. As well as in sports, coaches help others to reach their goals, whether it is a healthier lifestyle or good results at competitions. ”

Tarvi Sits

Secretary General at the Ministry of Culture

“In the future, the labour shortage in trade will remain, therefore businesses must manage with less workers. Successful companies keep and train their employees, providing them personal development opportunities.”

Nele Peil

Estonian Traders Association, CEO

“In the field of accommodation, catering and tourism, keeping and training employees, creating innovative services, and increasing the quality of services will become more important in the future.”

Helle Gern

Project Manager at the Estonian Tourist Board of Enterprise Estonia

“The real future is shaped by teachers and researchers, who work in classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories and at field trips. Building the future is one of the most meaningful things to dedicate your life to. ”

Mati Heidmets

Professor of Social Psychology at Tallinn University

“HR managers should be included in the management in order to ensure smart labour force planning. Therefore, the respective speciality studies must increase focus on economic studies, strategic planning, design thinking, process management, automation, technological expertise, predictive analytics, etc., in order to make HR managers worthy partners to CEOs. ”

Tiina Saar-Veelmaa

Career counselor and expert in workplace happiness

“The greatest challenge of entrepreneurs in apparel and textile industry is finding ways to bring about a sudden increase in added value. This would also allow them to introduce a considerable increase in employees' wages.”

Meelis Virkebau

Promoter of apparel and textile industry

“To ensure the development of Estonian construction sector, the increase of productivity and keeping up with the rest of the world, the use of innovative solutions and management principles and valuing cooperation must be promoted and the professional competence of people working in construction must be raised.”

Jüri Rass

Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Deputy Secretary General

“The near future of transportation, logistics and motor vehicle repair and maintenance is mainly related to the technological development trends. Digitalisation, driverless and electrical vehicles and new business models change the need for labour force and skills.”

Rami Morel

Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, Economic Development Department

“Although energy and mining companies are in high esteem as employers, the need for new employees is a significantly higher in several professions than the number of young people who wish to study these specialities. Even though power engineering is a difficult discipline to study, the result is a well-paid and valued job in an extremely interesting field.”

Einari Kisel

World Energy Council, Regional Manager for Europe

“Cars, phones, new medications, computers and the Internet have undoubtedly influenced various fields of health care. However, the health care system has changed considerably less compared to the work in factories, banks, transportation or media companies. There are signs in the air that the most recent technological leap in other sectors drags along the health care system that has conservatively held itself back.”

Kristjan Port

School of Natural Sciences and Health of Tallinn University, Associate Professor

“Fast development of chemical and materials technology will create interesting jobs in the future of this sector of industry. For the sustainable development of the sector, there is a need for chemical engineers, product development engineers and industrial engineers.”

Hallar Meybaum

Federation of Estonian Chemical Industries, Managing Director

“For adapting the educational courses on offer to labour market requirements and to increase the competitiveness of the Estonian economy is essential to increase the workforce numbers generating higher added value.

Margus Tammeraja

Association of Estonian Accountants

OSKA methodology

OSKA applied research surveys on sectoral needs for labour and skills are unique because they use a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods and analyse professional qualifications across all levels of education. For this purpose, both statistical data and information collected from personal interviews with sectoral experts and from group discussions are used.

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OSKA management

The implementation of OSKA is overseen by the OSKA Coordination Council, which has 11 members. Each year, the Coordination Council submits an overview of the state of play regarding labour market and skills and its proposals to the Government through the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

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