Number of unemployed among completers of qualifications in humanities and arts was 19,000 in 2015

According to the preliminary data of Statistics Finland's employment statistics, the number of persons aged 18 to 64, whose main type of activity was unemployed, was 375,000 at the end of 2015. Unemployment was highest among completers of qualifications in humanities and arts, and natural sciences, smallest among those with qualifications in health and welfare. The unemployment risk was particularly high for Masters of Arts in Theatre and Drama (12.6%) and Bachelors of Culture and Arts (Polytechnic) in Drama Instructing (15.8%). The unemployment risk describes the share of persons that are unemployed one year later.

Share of unemployed persons in the labour force by level and field of education in 2015 (%)

Unemployment increased in all levels of education

According to the preliminary data of employment statistics, around 375,000 people of working age (aged 18 to 64) were unemployed at the end of 2015. The proportion of the unemployed in the labour force was 14.4 per cent. Examined by level of education, the share of unemployed persons was double among completers of upper secondary level qualifications compared to those with tertiary level qualifications. Among those with upper secondary level qualifications, the share of unemployed was 16.1 per cent (200,000 persons) in the labour force of the corresponding level of education, among those with lowest level tertiary and lower university level degrees the share was 8.5 per cent (56,000) and among those with higher university and doctorate level degrees the share was 7.1 per cent (25,000).

Shares of unemployed persons in the labour force by level of education in 2010, 2014 and 2015, (% and number)

Level of education	2010	2014	2015	2015, number	2010-2015, change
Upper secondary level	11.5	15.6	16.1	199,215	60,691
Lowest level tertiary and lower tertiary level	5.7	8.4	8.5	55,798	19,383
Higher university and doctorate level	4.2	6.8	7.1	25,078	12,089

Compared with the year before, unemployment increased in all levels of education. Among those with upper secondary level qualifications (aged 18 to 64), 5,400 more were unemployed in 2015 than one year earlier. The share of unemployed among the labour force with upper secondary level qualifications was 4.6 percentage points (nearly 61,000 persons) higher than five years ago. In the other levels of education, the share of unemployed persons increased by nearly three percentage points from 2010. Compared to 2010, over 19,000 more were unemployed among those with lowest level tertiary and lower university level degrees and around 12,000 more among those with higher university and doctorate level degrees. (Appendix table 1.)

Most unemployed persons in the educational field of humanities and arts

Examined by field of education, unemployment was most common for those with qualifications in humanities and arts, and natural sciences. In humanities and arts, unemployment was 15.8 per cent (5,500 persons) among those with lowest level tertiary and lower university level degrees and in natural sciences, it was 10.9 per cent (900 person) in 2015. Among those with higher university and doctorate level degrees, 11.2 per cent (6,300 persons) were unemployed in the field of humanities and arts and 9.6 per cent (3,300 persons) in natural sciences. The unemployment percentage of those with upper secondary level qualifications in humanities and arts was 24.6 per cent (7,100 persons) and the corresponding figure was 25 per cent (3,500 persons) in natural sciences. (Appendix table 2.)

The share of unemployed was smallest in health and welfare. In health and welfare, unemployment was 4.0 per cent among those with lowest level tertiary and lower university degrees and 2.1 per cent among those with higher university and doctorate level degrees. The share of unemployed persons among those with upper secondary level qualifications in the field was 8.9 per cent. In total, around 21,000 educated in health and welfare were unemployed at the end of 2015.

The shares of unemployed persons in the labour force also grew most in natural sciences and in humanities and arts in all levels of education in 2010 to 2015. The shares of unemployed grew least among those with qualifications in health and welfare, and education science and teacher education.

The risk of unemployment was great for those with qualifications in drama instructing (Polytechnic).

Among those with higher and lower university level degrees, persons with humanities and arts qualifications had the greatest risks of unemployment. In all, 12.6 per cent of the Masters of Arts in Theatre and Drama and 7.7 per cent of Masters of Arts in Art and Design, who were employed in 2014, were unemployed at the end of 2015. Among those with lower university level degrees, many Bachelors of Culture and Arts (Polytechnic) became unemployed, such as drama instructors (15.8%), visual artists (14.4%) and cultural managers (10.2%).

Among those with higher university level degrees, Masters of Science in Business Administration (over 600 persons) became unemployed most in absolute numbers. This is, however, just 2.9 per cent of employed persons in 2014 having completed the degree. Among completers of lower university level degrees most Bachelors of Business Administration (Polytechnic) in Economics, Administration and Marketing became unemployed (1,800 persons). The share of those becoming unemployed was 3.6 per cent of all Bachelors of Business Administration (Polytechnic) in Economics, Administration and Marketing employed in 2014.

The share of those having become unemployed in employed persons is greatest for those with upper secondary level qualifications. One-fifth of those with further, vocational qualifications in learning support and morning and afternoon club activity instruction at school, who were employed in 2014, became unemployed in 2015. Among completers of qualifications, 1,300 were employed, of whom nearly 300 got unemployed. The unemployment risk was also high for those with vocational qualifications in information and telecommunication technology (16.6%), but the unemployed were low in numbers.

Among the labour force with upper secondary level education, persons with only general matriculation examination (5,400) and with vocational qualifications of practical nurse (3,300 persons) became unemployed most commonly. There are many persons who have completed qualifications, so the share of unemployed in employed remains small due to the large number of completers of qualifications; 3.2 per cent of passers of the matriculation examination became unemployed and 4.0 per cent of those with practical nurse qualifications.

Source: Employment Statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Netta Hiitola 029 551 3552, Laura Lohikoski 029 551 3396, info@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Appendix tables

Updated 09.12.2016

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Employment [e-publication].
ISSN=2323-6825. Background information on unemployed persons 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 6.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tyokay/2015/03/tyokay_2015_03_2016-12-09_tie_001_en.html