Unemployment increased in December, and the number of people in the activation services continued to decline

At the end of December, there were 351,500 unemployed jobseekers in total, which is 29,800 more than a year earlier. However, the number of new unemployment spells started was 5,700 more than a year ago. These figures are from the Employment Bulletin of the Employment, Development and Administrative Centre (KEHA Centre).

The number of unemployed jobseekers includes clients of municipal employment services as well as those who are fully laid off. In December, there were 31,800 fully laid-off individuals, which is 3,200 fewer than a year ago, but 12,000 more than in November. In total, there were 43,000 laid-off individuals (including those working reduced working week) across the country at the end of December, which is 5,600 fewer than a year earlier.

Long-term unemployment continued to rise – Unemployment increased across all age groups

There were 137,700 long-term unemployed in December, meaning individuals who have been unemployed jobseekers continuously for at least one year. This is 28,100 more than a year ago. Of these, 68,400 had been unemployed for over two years, which is 14,100 more than in December last year.

Unemployment increased across all age groups compared to the previous year. There were 43,000 unemployed jobseekers under the age of 25, which is 5,500 more than in December last year. Of the youth unemployment spells, 48.0 percent ended before reaching three months during January–December. This share decreased by 7.7 percentage points from the previous year. Among unemployed jobseekers, 88,300 were over 55 years old, which is 6,400 more than a year ago. Of the unemployment spells for those over 55, 43.2 percent ended before three months during January–December. The change from the previous year is -5,0 percentage points.

Number of new job vacancies increased*

During December, 31,500 new job vacancies were reported, which is 8,700 more than at the same time last year. Numerically, the largest increase was in the occupational group of Elementary occupations, where 5,000 new vacancies were reported 2,800 more than in December last year. The largest decrease was in the group of Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers, where 100 new vacancies were reported in December, which is 700 fewer than a year earlier. In total, there were 51,300 open jobs in December, which is 7,900 more than a year ago.

At the end of December, 82,100 people were participating in services counted towards the activation rate, which is 14,100 fewer than a year earlier. Services included in the activation rate are, among others, wage subsidies, labour market training, rehabilitative work activities, and self-motivated studies with unemployment benefits.

* Figures for job vacancies from June to December 2024 exclude those jobs that employers prohibited from being transferred to employment authorities. In the 2025 figures, such jobs are included. This highlights the change in the number of jobs vacant compared to the previous year and likely explains the overall increase in new open jobs. 

Statistics Finland: The trend of the unemployment rate 10.7 per cent

According to the Labour Force Survey issued by Statistics Finland, in December the number of people in employment was 7,000 less than on the previous year. The trend of the employment rate was 71.3%, which was 0.3 percentage points lower than in December the year before. According to the Survey, the unemployment total was 277,000, which is 51,000 more than a year ago. The trend of the unemployment rate was 10.7 %, 1.7 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.