PHP Developer Hiring Trends in Tallinn, Estonia

This report was last updated on Aug 16, 2025

Bence Gedai

Founder

I analyze live hiring data and tech job trends across Europe to give CTOs and Product Leaders a strategic edge. By tracking tens of thousands of open roles each week, I uncover which skills, roles, and locations are in highest demand — potential competitors, typical time to hire, talent pool sizes, and more to help you prioritize hiring, benchmark and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

Key learnings from this report

The Software PHP Engineers job market in Estonia, particularly in Tallinn, has recently shown notable fluctuations, with a peak of 12 new job openings in week 21 and an average of 5 new positions posted weekly over the last 12 weeks.
Despite the active job posting environment, there has been a concerning trend towards a net loss of job opportunities, exemplified by 13 positions closed in week 23, necessitating enhanced recruitment strategies for hiring managers.
Tallinn remains the primary hub for Software PHP Engineer positions, accounting for 78% of job openings in Estonia, followed by Tartu at 12% and the broader region at 8%, demonstrating its critical significance in the local job market.
The demand for experienced professionals is evident, as mid-senior level roles make up 57% of openings, while entry-level positions account for 34%, indicating a robust influx of new talent that hiring managers can leverage.
With a median time to hire of 33 days and a competitive landscape characterized by a ratio of 3.5 Software PHP Engineers per job opening, hiring managers must implement strategic recruitment initiatives to effectively attract and secure talent in Tallinn's tech sector.

Number of roles opened and closed for PHP Engineers in Tallinn in the last 3 months

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, has exhibited notable fluctuations over the past 12 weeks. A peak of 12 new job openings was recorded in week 21, with an overall average of approximately 5 new positions posted per week. However, the job closure rate reflects a significant trend; notably, week 23 saw 13 positions closed, leading to a concerning net loss of job opportunities that week. In contrast, this volatility appears less pronounced in other European tech hubs, suggesting that hiring managers in Estonia Tallinn may need to adopt tailored recruitment strategies to attract and retain talent amidst these shifts.

Who else is hiring for software Engineers in Estonia:

Company name	Country	Industry	Founded	# Job openings
Canonical	United Kingdom	Information Technology & Services	2004	164
Wise	United Kingdom	Financial Services	2011	24
Luminor Group	Estonia	Banking	2017	22
Bolt	Estonia	Information Technology & Services	2013	17
Kuehne+Nagel	Switzerland	Logistics & Supply Chain	1890	9
Veriff	United States	Information Technology & Services	2015	9
Wolt	Finland	Information Technology & Services	2014	8
Betsson Group	Malta	Entertainment	1963	8
Provectus	United States	Information Technology & Services	2010	8
Ruby Labs	United States	Information Technology & Services	2018	8

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Talent pool vs job openings for Software Engineers in Estonia

How competitive it is to hire Software Engineers in Estonia

The talent market for Software PHP Engineers in Europe exhibits varying dynamics across different countries. For instance, Estonia shows a balanced ratio of 3.5 Software PHP Engineers per job opening, indicative of a competitive environment for hiring. In comparison, countries like Germany and the Netherlands present higher ratios of 5.0 and 6.0 respectively, suggesting a more accessible talent pool. Conversely, Poland's ratio at 2.0 indicates a tighter market for recruitment. This analysis suggests that while Estonia has a decent supply of PHP Engineering talent, hiring may still be challenging compared to its European counterparts, emphasizing the need for strategic recruitment initiatives.

Seniority distribution of PHP Engineer job openings in Tallinn

Seniority Distribution of PHP Engineering Jobs in Tallinn

The seniority distribution of Software PHP Engineering jobs in Tallinn, Estonia reveals prominent trends that hiring managers should consider. At the forefront, Mid-Senior level positions account for 57% of job openings, indicating a strong demand for experienced professionals. In contrast, Entry level roles represent 34%, highlighting a robust influx of new talent into the market. Finally, Associate positions make up 4%, reflecting a narrower segment of opportunities for early-career developers.

Preferred employment type for Engineering roles in Estonia

In Estonia, the employment landscape for engineering roles is predominantly characterized by full-time positions, which comprise 93% of the job market. Contract roles represent 7%, while part-time opportunities account for 4% of the overall employment types. This distribution highlights a strong preference for stability through full-time employment among software PHP Engineers in Estonia's Tallinn tech sector.

Time to Hire Distribution for Software in Estonia

How long does it take to hire Software Engineers

The time to hire distribution for Software PHP Engineers in Estonia reveals a nuanced landscape in the recruitment process. The majority of candidates, constituting 254 individuals, were hired within the 30-day timeframe, indicating a trend towards quicker placements. However, the data also shows significant counts for candidates hired at 15 days (116) and 25 days (197), reflecting varying urgency in hiring practices. As hiring managers in Tallinn consider recruitment strategies, understanding this distribution can guide more effective approaches for sourcing and onboarding talent, especially amidst the competitive software PHP job market in Estonia.

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Most popular cities in Estonia to hire Software Engineers

Top 5 cities in Estonia to hire Software Engineers

In the competitive landscape of the Software PHP Engineers job market in Estonia, Tallinn emerges as the dominant hub with 78% of the available job openings. Tartu, the second most significant city, accounts for 12% of the job market, while the broader region categorized as Estonia represents 8%. This data underscores Tallinn's critical role in attracting Software PHP Developer opportunities, making it a focal point for recruitment strategies in the tech sector. For a visual representation of these job distributions, please refer to the attached chart.

Most sought after technologies in Tallinn for PHP

Key technologies for PHP Engineers

The Software PHP Engineer job market in Estonia, particularly in Tallinn, shows a strong preference for several key technologies. Predominantly, PHP remains foundational with a usage frequency of 5,625, reflecting its critical role in web development. Additionally, JavaScript is widely utilized, with a frequency of 2,983, showcasing its importance in creating dynamic web applications. SQL and MySQL follow closely, at frequencies of 1,558 and 1,649 respectively, indicating a significant demand for database management skills. Furthermore, Laravel and Symfony, both PHP frameworks, have frequencies of 1,168 and 1,001, underscoring the need for proficiency in modern PHP development tools. A detailed chart illustrating these data points is provided for further reference.

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