16 January, 1998
Inquiries: Mr Tapio Oksanen + 358 9 1734 3228, Mr
Hannu Siitonen + 358 9 1734 3225
Ms Salme Kiiski + 358 9 1734 3230, Mr Timo Koskimäki + 358 9 1734
3517
Statistical Director in charge: Mr Risto Lehtonen
More jobs in services, manufacturing and transport in December
According to the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland, there were 1 854 000 wage earners in December, that is a good 70 000 more than the year before. Jobs increased most in the public sector and other services, manufacturing and transport.
There were 321 000 unemployed in December, which is 50 000 fewer than a year earlier. The rate of unemployment, i.e. the proportion of the unemployed of the total labour force, was 12.9 per cent, putting it 2.1 percentage points below the figure for December 1996. The unemployment rate of men was 12.6 and, of women, 13.1 per cent.
Unemployment diminished most in the construction sector. However, this sector still recorded the highest unemployment rate of 18.5 per cent.
The unemployment rate of the young labour force aged between 15 and 24 was 21.9 per cent. Of this total age group of 644 000, 8.7 per cent were unemployed.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage points from November and stood at 13.1 per cent.
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Changes in the labour force 12/1996 - 12/1997, 1 000 persons |
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| December | November | December | CHANGE, % | |
| 1996 | 1997 | 1997 | 12/96 - 12/97 | |
| Employed wage earners | 1 779 | 1 823 | 1 854 | 4.2 |
| Processing industries | 515 | 511 | 547 | 6.2 |
| Service sector | 1 228 | 1 275 | 1 272 | 3.6 |
| other industries | 36 | 37 | 35 | -1.7 |
| Employed entrepreneurs + | ||||
| assisting family members | 320 | 336 | 319 | -0.2 |
| Employed, total | 2 098 | 2 160 | 2 177 | 3.7 |
| Unemployed, total | 371 | 328 | 321 | -13.4 |
| under 25 years of age | 58 | 50 | 56 | -2.5 |
| Unemployment rate, % | 15.0 | 13.2 | 12.9 | -2.1 1 |
| under 25 years of age, % | 25.9 | 20.3 | 21.9 | -4.0 1 |
| Economically inactive | ||||
| aged 15 to 74 | 1 386 | 1 380 | 1 372 | -1.0 |
| Unrounded figures are used in the CHANGE column. | 1 percentage points | |||
In addition to the unemployed, there were 118 000 people in December who could have accepted a job, but were not looking for one. Of this concealed unemployment total, 21 000 were not pursuing work because they considered it fruitless and 97 000 were not seeking a job because of studies, child care or some other reason. Both above groups are classified as economically inactive. The total number of economically inactive persons in the 15 to 74-years-old age group was 1 372 000.
There were 261 000 part-time employees in December. Of these, 88 000 would have preferred working full-time.
Impact of the revision on comparability
Statistics Finland revised the Labour Force Survey at the beginning of 1997 to better correspond to the concepts and definitions used by the European Union and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and to better meet the demands of international comparability. Although most of the effects of the revision were anticipated and the figures for December 1996 accordingly adjusted, year-on-year comparisons remain somewhat uncertain. The final revised figures for 1996 will be released in spring 1998. Until then the revised data will remain preliminary.
Last year's employment trend was primarily assessed by changes in the number of wage earners. The adoption of the statistical principles of the EU at the beginning of last year made comparison with the previous year difficult, particularly in respect of the number of entrepreneurs.
The data for the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland were collected by interviewing some 12 000 Finnish residents of working age. The data are from between December 8 and 14. The Labour Force Survey is a panel survey where over a period of 18 months each person is included five times in the sample.
Since the Labour Force Survey is a sample survey, random variation has to be taken into account when assessing the changes. The confidence interval in the December unemployment rate is plus minus 0.5 percentage points.
Ministry of Labour unemployment figures
The Ministry of Labour also publishes statistics on unemployment. The data are on the number of unemployed jobseekers on the last working day of each month. The Ministry of Labour releases its data for December on the same day as Statistics Finland.
Owing to differences in methods and definitions, the unemployment figures issued by Statistics Finland and the Ministry of Labour are not fully comparable. However, the figures generally change in the same direction, so that the figures of the Ministry of Labour are some tens of thousands higher.
Source: Labour Force Survey, December 1997. Statistics Finland