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Published: 12 June 2008

Employment improved significantly in 2004-2007, regional differences persist

From 2004 to 2007, the number of employed persons increased by 127,000, or by 5.4 per cent. The employment rate for persons aged 15 to 64 rose from 67.2 to 69.9 per cent. At the same time, the number of the unemployed fell by 45,000 persons, or by 20 per cent. The unemployment rate diminished from 8.8 to 6.9 per cent.

Change from previous year in number of employed and unemployed persons, 2000-2007

Between 2004 and 2007, employment increased most in the Provinces of Southern Finland and Western Finland where the number of employed persons went up by 111,000 altogether, or by six per cent. In the Provinces of Eastern Finland, Oulu and Lapland the number of employed persons grew by 15,000 in all, or by three per cent. Among these, the number of employed persons went up most, or by 12,000, in the Province of Oulu.

Employment rate for persons aged 15 to 64 reached 73.0 per cent in the Province of Southern Finland and 70.4 per cent in the Province of Western Finland. In the east and north of the country employment rates rose less and continued to remain at clearly lower levels. In 2007, the rate of employment was 65.8 per cent in the Province of Oulu, 62.3 per cent in the Province of Eastern Finland and 59.9 per cent in the Province of Lapland.

From 2004 to 2007, the number of unemployed persons fell by a total of 35,000, or 22 per cent, in the Provinces of Southern Finland and Western Finland. In the Province of Southern Finland, the rate of unemployment fell to 5.6 per cent and in the Province of Western Finland to 6.5 per cent. In the Provinces of Eastern Finland, Oulu and Lapland, in turn, the number of unemployed persons diminished by 10,000 in all, or by 15 per cent. In these provinces, the rate of unemployed continued to be clearly higher than the average for the country: 10.3 per cent in the Province of Eastern Finland, 10.9 per cent in the Province of Lapland and 9.5 per cent in the Province of Oulu, too.

Source: Labour Force Statistics 2007 - Results of the Labour Force Survey from the years 1998-2007, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Ms Heidi Melasniemi-Uutela +358-0-1734 2523 , ms Olga Kambur +358-0-1734 3565, tyovoimatutkimus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Ms Riitta Harala

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Last updated 12.6.2008