The number of job vacancies increased slightly compared to a year ago

At the end of July, there were a total of 339,200 unemployed jobseekers. This is 33,200 more than a year earlier and 8,300 more than the previous month. However, 7,400 fewer unemployment spells began than a year ago. The figures are from the Employment Bulletin of the Development and Administrative Services Centre (KEHA Centre). 

“The number of unemployed jobseekers includes the customers of municipal employment services as well as those who are fully laid off”, explains researcher Mia Pylkkönen from KEHA Centre. At the end of July, a total of 18,900 people were fully laid off, which is 2,000 fewer than in July last year and 1,500 more than the previous month. Nationwise, the total number of laid off individuals (including those working shorter hours) was 27,800 at the end of July, which is 1,000 fewer than a year earlier. 

Long-term unemployment continued to increase, unemployment rose in all age groups 

“In July, there were 128,800 long-term unemployed individuals, or individuals who had been unemployed for at least one year without interruption. This is 30,200 more than a year earlier. The number of people who had been unemployed for over two years was 62,100, which is 9,900 more than in July last year,” says Pylkkönen. 

Unemployment increased compared with a year ago in all age groups. There were 41,900 young unemployed jobseekers under the age of 25, which is 5,300 more than in July last year. Of the unemployment spells among young people, 45.6 per cent ended between January and July before reaching three months of unemployment. This share fell by 8.8 percentage points compared with a year earlier. Among the unemployed jobseekers, 82,600 were over the age of 55, which is 6,900 more than a year ago. Of the unemployment spells among those over 55, 42.6 per cent ended between January and July before reaching three months of unemployment. The change compared with a year earlier is -14.8 percentage points. 

Number of new job vacancies increased slightly  

“In July, 27,200 new job vacancies were reported, which is 2,200 more than at the same time the previous year. In numerical terms, the largest increase was in the occupational group of craft and related trades workers, where the number of new job vacancies grew by 2,200 (a relative change of 54%) compared with July last year. Numerically, the largest decrease was in the occupational group of technicians and accociate professionals, where 1,900 fewer new job vacancies were reported in July (a relative change of 49%) than a year earlier. In total, there were 49,200 job vacancies in July, which is 1,000 more than a year ago”, Pylkkönen summarizes. 

At the end of July, 69,300 individuals were in services included in the activation rate, down 32,100 from the previous year. These services include, for example, pay subsidy, vocational labour market training, rehabilitative work activities, and self-motivated studies supported by unemployment benefit. 

Statistics Finland: The trend of the unemployment rate 9.6 per cent  

According to the Labour Force Survey issued by Statistics Finland, in July the number of people in employment was 43,000 less than on the previous year. The trend of the employment rate was 71.1%, which is 1.0 percentage points lower than in July last year. According to the Survey, the unemployment total was 269,000, which is 40,000 more than a year ago. The trend of the unemployment rate was 9.6%, or 1.2 percentage points higher than the previous year.  

Key differences between the Employment Service Statistics and the Labour Force Survey  

The information is based on the Employment Service Statistics of the KEHA Centre and the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland. The source of the Employment Service Statistics of the KEHA Centre is the customer register of municipal employment services, while the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland is a sample survey.  

In the Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, anyone who is not employed or acting as an entrepreneur is classified as unemployed. Persons fully laid off but not full-time students are also categorised as unemployed in the Employment Service Statistics. The Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland has a stricter definition of unemployed: a person is unemployed if they have actively sought employment during the preceding four weeks and are available for work within two weeks. The Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland produces official unemployment figures that are internationally comparable.