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Published: 23 September 2008

Number of employed persons almost unchanged

According to the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland, the number of employed persons in August was 2 566 000, or 8 000 higher than a year earlier. This change is within the margin of error for the number of employed persons. The number of employed persons grew in the public sector and fell in the private sector. The number of employed persons decreased in the Province of Oulu and stayed unchanged or increased slightly in the other provinces.

In August, the employment rate , that is, the proportion of the employed among persons aged 15 to 64, stood at 71,5 per cent, which was the same as one year previously. Adjusted for seasonal and random variation, the trend of the employment rate was 70,6 per cent. The employment rate of men was 73,6 per cent and that of women 69,5 per cent. The unemployment rate among young people fell from 48,9 to 45,0 per cent.

According to the Labour Force Survey, there were 151 000 unemployed in August 2008, i.e. 11 000 fewer than in August of the year before. This change is within the margin of error for the number of unemployed persons. The number of unemployed men fell, while that of unemployed women was almost unchanged.

At 5,6 per cent, the unemployment rate was 0,4 percentage points lower than one year earlier. The unemployment rate of men was 4,6 per cent and that of women 6,5 per cent. The trend of the unemployment rate was 6,4 per cent in August.

The unemployment rate was lowest in the Province of Southern Finland, at 4,8 per cent, and highest in the Province of Oulu, at 8,0 per cent. In August 2008, the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 was 11,7 per cent, which was 2,8 percentage points higher than in the previous year’s August. The trend of the unemployment rate among young people was 17,1 per cent.

In the January to August period of 2008 , the average number of employed persons was 2 541 000 persons, or 45 000 higher than in the respective period of 2007. The number of unemployed persons was 179 000, which is 15 000 fewer than in the January to August period of 2007.

Changes in the labour force 2008/08– 2007/08, thousand persons

  2008/08 2007/08 Change, %
2008/08 - 2007/08
Employed 2 566 2 558 0,3
Unemployed 151 162 –6,6
Labour force 2 717 2 719 –0,1
Total persons not in labour force 1 291 1 264 2,2
      Percentage points
Employment rate, % 71,5 71,5 0,0
Unemployment rate, % 5,6 5,9 –0,4
Labour force participation rate, % 67,8 68,3 –0,5
Unrounded figures are used in the Change column.
The data are collected according to the ILO/EU definition.		      

Links: Press release connected to this statistical release (incl. data of Ministry of Employment and the Economy):
http://tilastokeskus.fi/ajk/tiedotteet/v2008/tiedote_023_2008-09-23_en.html


Source: Labour force survey 2008, August. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Heidi Melasniemi-Uutela (09) 1734 2523, Kalle Sinivuori (09) 1734 3524, Veli Rajaniemi (09) 1734 3434, tyovoimatutkimus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 23.9.2008

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Labour force survey [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-7857. August 2008. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 5.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tyti/2008/08/tyti_2008_08_2008-09-23_tie_001_en.html