Unemployment among highly educated people increased by around 30 per cent from 2012

According to preliminary data of Statistics Finland’s Employment Statistics for 2013, unemployment among persons with at least lowest level tertiary qualifications has increased more than among other levels of education over the past ten years. The proportion of the highly educated unemployed among the labour force has grown most in the fields of natural sciences and technology. For people with tertiary level qualifications ¹⁾ , unemployment was most common in 2013 in the field of humanities and arts.

Change in the proportion of the unemployed š in 2003 to 2013*, year 2003=100

1) Proportion of the unemployed among the labour force, population aged 18 to 64

*) Preliminary data

The proportion of the unemployed among the labour force aged 18 to 64 decreased for all levels of education before 2008. After 2008, the proportion of unemployed among holders of higher university or doctorate level degrees has not dropped below the 2003 level. Since 2012, the proportion of the unemployed among the labour force grew for all levels of education, most, however, for the highly educated (both higher and lower university degrees).

According to the Employment Statistics, at the end of 2013, there were 328,000 unemployed persons of working-age, which was nearly 47,000 (17%) more than one year earlier. The number of the unemployed grew most among highly educated people; for persons with lowest level tertiary qualifications or lower university degrees, unemployment increased by 29 per cent, and for persons with higher university or doctorate level degrees, by 31 per cent compared to 2012. Despite the increase in unemployment for persons with tertiary level qualifications, their share of all unemployed persons of working-age is around one-fifth, while their share of employed persons is 41 per cent.

Examined by field of education, the proportion of the unemployed among the labour force for persons with tertiary level qualifications was highest in the field of humanities and arts (11.0%) and lowest in the field of health and welfare (2.8%) in 2013. Health and welfare is the only field of education where the proportion of the unemployed is lower than ten years ago. In the field of technology, the proportion of the unemployed grew especially in 2009 but the growth has continued in recent years as well.

Proportion of the unemployed among the working-age population with tertiary level degrees compared to the entire labour force of the same age in 2003 to 2013*, %

*) Preliminary data

The proportion of the employed of the entire working-age population also varies depending on the level of education. In 2013, the proportion of employed persons among those with basic level education was 45 per cent, 68 per cent among those with upper secondary level qualifications, 81 per cent among those with lowest tertiary level qualifications or lower university degrees, and 86 per cent among those with higher university or doctorate level degrees.

The data on unemployment in the employment statistics derive from the Register of Job Seekers of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

1) Tertiary level qualifications include lowest tertiary level, lower and higher university level, and doctorate level.

Source: Employment Statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Laura Lohikoski 029 551 3396, Aura Pasila 029 551 3576, tyossakaynti@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 16.12.2014

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Employment [e-publication].
ISSN=2323-6825. Background information on unemployed persons 2013. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 6.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tyokay/2013/03/tyokay_2013_03_2014-12-16_tie_001_en.html