Published: 27 January 2016
Unemployment rate 9.2 per cent in December
According to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, the number of unemployed persons in December 2015 was 241,000, which was 9,000 higher than one year ago. The unemployment rate was 9.2 per cent, having been 8.8 per cent in December of the year before. There were 25,000 fewer employed than in December of the previous year. The unemployment rate in the fourth quarter (October to December) was 8.7 per cent, which was 0.3 percentage points higher than in the respective quarter of 2014. In 2015, the unemployment rate was on average 9.4 per cent, having been 8.7 per cent in 2014.
Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 2005/12–2015/12, persons aged 15–74
![Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 2005/12–2015/12, persons aged 15–74](tyti_2015_12_2016-01-27_tie_001_en_001.gif)
In December 2015, the number of employed persons was 2,387,000 (margin of error ±32,000), which was 25,000 lower than a year earlier. There were 13,000 fewer employed men and 12,000 fewer employed women than in December 2014.
In December 2015, the employment rate , that is, the proportion of the employed among persons aged 15 to 64, stood at 66.9 per cent, having been 67.4 per cent one year earlier. From last year’s December, men’s employment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 67.7 per cent and women’s by 0.6 percentage points to 66.2 per cent. Adjusted for seasonal and random variation, the trend of the employment rate was 68.3 per cent.
According to Statistics Finland's Labour Force Survey, there were 241,000 unemployed in December 2015 (margin of error ±18,000), i.e. 9,000 more than one year earlier. The number of unemployed men was 129,000 and that of women 112,000.
At 9.2 per cent, the unemployment rate in December was 0.4 percentage points higher than one year earlier. Men’s unemployment rate was 9.5 per cent and women’s 8.8 per cent. The trend of the unemployment rate was 9.4 per cent.
In December, there were a total of 641,000 young people aged 15 to 24 . Of them, 223,000 were employed and 53,000 were unemployed. Thus, the labour force of young people (employed and unemployed) totalled 276,000. In December, the unemployment rate for young people aged 15 to 24, that is, the proportion of the unemployed among the labour force, stood at 19.2 per cent, which was 0.5 percentage points lower than one year previously. The trend of the unemployment rate among young people was 21.4 per cent. The share of unemployed young people aged 15 to 24 among the population in the same age group was 8.3 per cent.
There were 1,481,000 persons in the inactive population in December 2015, which was 26,000 more than one year earlier. Of the inactive population, 154,000 persons were in disguised unemployment , which was 16,000 more than in December 2014.
Changes in employment 2014/12 – 2015/12 according to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, population aged 15 to 74
Year/Month | Change | ||
2014/12 | 2015/12 | 2014/12 - 2015/12 | |
1000 persons | Per cent, % | ||
Population total | 4 100 | 4 109 | 0,2 |
Active population total | 2 645 | 2 628 | –0,6 |
Employed | 2 413 | 2 387 | –1,0 |
– employees | 2 061 | 2 045 | –0,8 |
– self-employed persons and unpaid family workers | 351 | 342 | –2,6 |
Unemployed | 232 | 241 | 3,8 |
Inactive population | 1 455 | 1 481 | 1,8 |
– Persons in disguised unemployment | 138 | 154 | 11,9 |
Per cent, % | Percentage points | ||
Employment rate, persons aged 15 to 64 | 67,4 | 66,9 | –0,5 |
Unemployment rate | 8,8 | 9,2 | 0,4 |
Activity rate | 64,5 | 64,0 | –0,6 |
Unrounded figures are used in the
Change column. The data comply with the ILO/EU definition. |
Labour Force Survey data for the fourth quarter of 2015
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the average number of employed persons was 2,412,000, or 6,000 fewer than in the corresponding quarter of 2014. The number of employed persons increased most in construction (F) and decreased in education (P).
The number of hours worked by employed persons was 0.7 per cent lower in the fourth quarter of 2015 than twelve months previously.
The average number of unemployed persons in the fourth quarter of 2015 was 230,000, which was 8,000 more than in the October to December period of 2014. The unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of 2015 was 8.7 per cent, which was 0.3 percentage points higher than in the respective period of 2014.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, the number of persons in the inactive population was 1,465,000, which was 6,000 higher than a year earlier. Of the inactive population, 157,000 persons were in disguised unemployment , which was 9,000 more than in the corresponding period of 2014.
Changes in employment 2014/IV – 2015/IV according to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, population aged 15 to 74
Year/Quarter | Change | ||
2014/IV | 2015/IV | 2014/IV - 2015/IV | |
1000 persons | Per cent (%) | ||
Active population total | 2 640 | 2 643 | 0,1 |
Employed persons total | 2 418 | 2 412 | –0,2 |
Unemployed total | 223 | 230 | 3,5 |
– men | 126 | 126 | –0,2 |
– women | 96 | 104 | 8,3 |
Inactive population | 1 459 | 1 465 | 0,4 |
– Persons in disguised unemployment | 148 | 157 | 6,1 |
Unrounded figures are used in the
Change column. The data comply with the ILO/EU definition. |
Labour Force Survey annual averages for 2015
In 2015, the average number of employed persons was 2,437,000, which was 10,000 lower than in 2014. In 2015, the employment rate was 68.1 per cent, having been 68.3 per cent in 2014.
The average rate of unemployment was 9.4 per cent in 2015, having been 8.7 per cent in 2014. In 2015, the average number of unemployed persons was 252,000, which was 20,000 higher than in 2014.
The number of hours worked by employed persons was approximately 0.2 per cent lower in 2015 than in 2014. The amount of labour input per employed person remained almost unchanged.
The annual averages from the Labour Force Survey for the year 2015 are published in the appendix tables of this publication and in the database tables of Statistics Finland's Labour Force Survey . A general review on annual data concerning 2015 and on time series data for 2006 to 2015 will be released on 12 April 2016.
Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy
At the end of December 2015, there were altogether 378,000 persons registered in accordance with the Employment Office Regulations as job seekers at the employment and economic development offices . The number of unemployed job seekers was 15,000 higher than in December 2014.
Unemployment fell in December from the corresponding period in 2014 in the areas of three Employment and Economic Development Centres: in Kainuu (–6%), North Ostrobothnia (–0%) and Lapland (–0%). In the areas of all other Employment and Economic Development Centres, unemployment increased: most in Uusimaa (9%), South Savo (6%) and Southeast Finland (6%). At the end of December, the number of temporarily laid off persons registered at the employment and economic development offices was 35,000, which was 3,000 fewer than twelve months earlier.
The number of persons engaged in services included in the activation rate totalled 108,000 at the end of December, which was 9,000 lower than in December of the previous year. Altogether, 4.1 per cent of the labour force was covered by labour market policy services.
There were 52,000 unemployed job seekers aged under 25 registered at the employment and economic development offices. Their number was 2,000 higher than in December of the year before. During last December, 35,000 new vacancies were reported to the employment and economic development offices, which was 6,000 more than in December 2014.
Changes 2014/12–2015/12 according to the Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy
Year/Month | Change | ||
2014/12 | 2015/12 | 2014/12 - 2015/12 | |
1000 persons | Per cent, % | ||
Unemployed job seekers 1) | 363 | 378 | 4,0 |
– unemployed over a year | 99 | 118 | 19,9 |
Services, total | 116 | 108 | –7,5 |
– employed | 35 | 19 | –45,4 |
– in labour market training, in training | 24 | 21 | –11,7 |
– engaged in work/training trials | 9 | 11 | 16,3 |
– as a job alternation substitute, in rehabilitative work, self-motivated studies supported by unemployment benefit | 48 | 57 | 17,4 |
New vacancies at employment and economic development offices | 30 | 35 | 18,9 |
Unrounded figures are used in the Change column. |
Links: Law reform 1
January 2013
Change
in the lay-off procedure 1 July 2013
Contact information for the Ministry of Employment and the
Economy:
Petri Syvänen tel. +358 29 504 8050, http://www.temtyollisyyskatsaus.fi
Links
Labour Force Survey tables in databases
About seasonally adjusted trend
The accuracy of figures and the margins of error are explained in the quality description of the Labour Force Survey .
Latest seasonally adjusted employment figures published by the EU can be found on Eurostat's home page http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
Latest data published by the EU on job vacancies can be found on Eurostat's home page http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
Source: Labour force survey 2015, December. Statistics Finland
Inquiries: Pertti Taskinen 029 551 2690, Tuomas Remes 029 551 3682, tyovoimatutkimus@stat.fi
Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma
Publication in pdf-format (743.4 kB)
- Tables
-
Tables in databases
Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.
Appendix tables
- Appendix table 1. Key indicators in the Labour Force Survey by sex 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 2. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 3. Population by sex and age 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 4. Active population by sex and age 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 5. Activity rates by sex and age 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 6. Employed persons by sex and age 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 7. Employment rates by sex and age 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 8. Employed persons aged 15-74 by status in employment 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 9. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 10. Employed persons aged 15-74 by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 11. Part-time employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 12. Proportion of part-time employed persons in all employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2014/12 - 2015/12, % (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 13. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 14. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2014/12 - 2015/12, % (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 15. Unemployed persons by sex and age 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 16. Unemployment rates by sex and age 2014/12 - 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 17. Unemployment rates by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2014/12 - 2015/12, persons aged 15-74 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 18. Seasonally adjusted trends 2015/12 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 19. Key indicators in the Labour Force Survey by sex 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 20. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 21. Population by sex and age 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 22. Active population by sex and age 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 23. Activity rates by sex and age 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 24. Employed persons by sex and age 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 25. Employment rates by sex and age 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 26. Employed persons aged 15-74 by status in employment 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 27. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 28. Employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 29. Hours actually worked of employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 30. Employed persons aged 15-74 by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 31. Employed persons aged 15-74 by region (2011) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 32. Part-time employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 33. Proportion of part-time employed persons in all employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2014/IV - 2015/IV, % (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 34. Employees aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 35. Hours actually worked of employees aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 36. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 37. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2014/IV - 2015/IV, % (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 38. Different types of employment relationships less than 12 month's duration 2014/IV - 2015/IV, persons aged 15-74 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 39. Different types of employment relationships less than 12 month's duration 2014/IV - 2015/IV, persons aged 15-74, % (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 40. Unemployed persons by sex and age 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 41. Unemployment rate by sex and age 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 42. Unemployment rates by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 43. Unemployment rates by region (2011) 2014/IV - 2015/IV (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 44. Key indicators in the Labour Force Survey by sex in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 45. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 46. Employment rates by sex and age in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 47. Employed person aged 15-74 by educational level and sex in 2012 - 2014 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 48. Employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 49. Hours actually worked by employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 50. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector and sex in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 51. Employed persons aged 15-74 by region (2011) in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 52. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship and sex in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 53. Unemployment rates by sex and age in 2013 - 2015 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 54. Unemployment rates by region (2011) in 2013 - 2015, persons aged 15-74 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix table 55. Unemployment rates by educational level and sex in 2012 - 2014, persons aged 15-74 (27.1.2016)
- Figures
-
- Appendix figure 1. Employment rate and trend of employment rate 2005/12 - 2015/12, persons aged 15 - 64 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix figure 2. Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 2005/12 - 2015/12, persons aged 15 - 74 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix figure 3. Employment rate and trend of employment rate 1989/01 - 2015/12, persons aged 15 - 64 (27.1.2016)
- Appendix figure 4. Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 1989/01 - 2015/12, persons aged 15 - 74 (27.1.2016)
- Quality descriptions
-
- Quality Description: Labour force survey (27.1.2016)
Updated 27.1.2016
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF):
Labour force survey [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-7857. December 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 17.8.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tyti/2015/12/tyti_2015_12_2016-01-27_tie_001_en.html