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1. Employment rate remained good among fathers during the economic downturn

The economic downturn which began towards the end of 2008 lowered especially men’s employment. However, the employment rate among fathers with children aged under 18 has remained good despite the recession. Figure 1 shows that although in the 20 to 59 age group employment decreased among both fathers and men without children, the employment rate declined by relatively less among fathers and remained close to 90 per cent even in 2009. The situation was best among fathers of under three-year-old children whose employment rate stayed nearly unchanged.

Among men without children the employment rate was only 73 per cent in 2009. In all age groups the employment rate was lower for men without children than for fathers.

Figure 1. Employment rates for 20 to 59-year-old fathers and men without children in 2004–2009

1.1 Men without children are unemployed more often than fathers

Unemployment became clearly more widespread among men without children than among fathers of children aged under 18 (Figure 2). Between 2008 and 2009, the unemployment rate for men without children rose from seven to eleven per cent. By contrast, unemployment increased by clearly less than this among fathers whose unemployment rate was only around four per cent in 2009.

Figure 2. Unemployment rates for 20 to 59-year-old fathers and men without children in 2004–2009

Thus, men without children experienced more of the temporary lay-offs, redundancies and increase in unemployment which followed from the recession. Fathers of families with children have remained firmly in working life and their employment rate has stayed high and unemployment rate low despite the recession.

Source: Labour force survey 2009. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Laura Hulkko (09) 1734 2611, Anna Pärnänen (09) 1734 2607, tyovoimatutkimus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 12.10.2010