Published: 24 January 2012
Unemployment rate 7.4 per cent in December
According to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, the number of unemployed persons in December was 192,000, which was 13,000 lower than one year before. The unemployment rate in December 2011 was 7.4 per cent, having been 7.9 per cent twelve months earlier. There were 14,000 more employed persons than in December of the previous year. The unemployment rate in the fourth quarter (October to December) was 6.9 per cent, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than in the respective quarter of 2010.
Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 1989/01 – 2011/12
![Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 1989/01 – 2011/12](tyti_2011_12_2012-01-24_tie_001_en_001.gif)
In December 2011, the number of employed persons was 2,411,000, which was 14,000 higher than a year earlier. This change fits within the margin of error for the number of employed persons (± 31,000). There were 3,000 fewer employed men and 16,000 more employed women than in December 2010. The number of employed persons grew in the private sector but fell in the public sector.
In December, the employment rate , that is, the proportion of the employed among persons aged 15 to 64, stood at 67.1 per cent, which was 0.5 percentage points higher than one year before. Adjusted for seasonal and random variation, the trend of the employment rate was 68.9 per cent. From the previous year’s December, women’s employment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points to 66 per cent and men’s by 0.2 percentage points to 68.1 per cent.
According to the Labour Force Survey, there were 192,000 unemployed in December 2011, which was 13,000 fewer than in December of the previous year. This change fits within the margin of error for the number of unemployed persons (± 16,000). The number of unemployed men was 114,000 and that of women 78,000.
At 7.4 per cent, the unemployment rate was 0.5 percentage points lower in December than one year earlier. Men’s unemployment rate was 8.4 per cent and women’s 6.3 per cent. The trend of the unemployment rate was 7.5 per cent. In December 2011, the unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 24 was 17.8 per cent, which was 1.3 percentage points lower than in the previous year’s December. The trend of the unemployment rate among young people was 19.1 per cent.
Changes in employment 2010/12 – 2011/12 according to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, population aged 15 to 74
Year/Month | Change | ||
2010/12 | 2011/12 | 2010/12 - 2011/12 | |
1000 persons | Per cent, % | ||
Population total | 4 051 | 4 067 | 0,4 |
Active population total | 2 602 | 2 603 | 0,0 |
Employed | 2 397 | 2 411 | 0,6 |
– employees | 2 073 | 2 074 | 0,0 |
– self-employed persons and unpaid family workers | 325 | 337 | 3,9 |
Unemployed | 204 | 192 | –6,2 |
Inactive population | 1 449 | 1 464 | 1,0 |
Per cent, % | Percentage points | ||
Employment rate, persons aged 15 to 64 | 66,6 | 67,1 | 0,5 |
Unemployment rate | 7,9 | 7,4 | –0,5 |
Activity rate | 64,2 | 64,0 | –0,2 |
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 2011
The average number of employed persons in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 2,456,000, or 31,000 higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2010. The number of employed persons increased in the activities of, for instance, human health and social work, information and communication, and financial and insurance intermediation. The number of employed persons decreased in the activities of transport and warehousing, and education.
The average number of unemployed persons in the fourth quarter of 2011 was 181,000, which was 14,000 lower than in the October to December period of 2010. The unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of the year was 6.9 per cent, which was 0.6 percentage points lower than in the respective quarter of 2010.
The number of hours worked by employed persons was almost the same in the fourth quarter of 2011 as twelve months previously.
Changes in employment 2010/IV – 2011/IV according to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, population aged 15 to 74
Year/Quarter | Change | ||
2010/IV | 2011/IV | 2010/IV - 2011/IV | |
1000 persons | Per cent (%) | ||
Active population total | 2 621 | 2 637 | 0,6 |
Employed persons total | 2 426 | 2 456 | 1,3 |
Unemployed total | 195 | 181 | –7,1 |
– men | 109 | 106 | –2,7 |
– women | 86 | 75 | –12,6 |
Unrounded figures are used in the
Change column. The data comply with the ILO/EU definition. |
Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy
At the end of December 2011, there were altogether 255,000 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 14,000 lower than in December 2010.
Unemployment decreased from the previous year in the areas of all other Employment and Economic Development Centres (ELY) apart from North Karelia (1%). The number of unemployed job seekers decreased most in Häme (–9%), Pirkanmaa (–9%) and North Savo (–8%). At the end of December, the number of temporarily laid off persons registered at the employment and economic development offices was 18,000, which was 4,000 lower than twelve months earlier.
The number of persons covered by labour market policy measures totalled 104,000 at the end of December, which was 2,000 higher than in December of the year before. Altogether 4.0 per cent of the labour force was covered by labour market policy measures.
There were 32,000 unemployed job seekers aged under 25 registered at the employment and economic development offices. Their number was 2,000 lower than in December of the previous year. During last December, 34,000 new vacancies were reported to the employment and economic development offices, which was 1,000 more than in December 2010.
Changes 2010/12– 2011/12 according to the Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy
Year/Month | Change | ||
2010/12 | 2011/12 | 2010/12 - 2011/12 | |
1000 persons | Per cent, % | ||
Unemployed job seekers | 269 | 255 | –5,2 |
– unemployed over a year | 58 | 57 | –1,6 |
Total measures | 103 | 104 | 1,5 |
– employed with subsidised measures | 35 | 33 | –7,1 |
– in labour market training | 32 | 26 | –16,6 |
– in trainee and job alternation places | 16 | 18 | 10,3 |
– in rehabilitative work, self-motivated studies (supported by unemployment benefit) | 20 | 27 | 38,4 |
New vacancies at employment and economic development offices | 33 | 34 | 4,2 |
Unrounded figures are used in the Change column. |
Contact information for the Ministry of Employment and the
Economy:
Mr Petri Syvänen, tel. +358 10 604 8050, http://www.tem.fi/employmentbulletin
Links
Labour Force Survey 2010, Employment and unemployment in 2010
Labour Force Survey 2010, Employment relationships and working hours in 2010
Labour Force Survey, Time series data 2001-2010
Differences between the Labour Force Survey and the Employment Service Statistics are explained in the quality description of the Labour Force Survey.
About seasonally adjusted trend
Latest seasonally adjusted employment figures published by the EU can be found on Eurostat's home page http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu
Source: Labour force survey 2011, December. Statistics Finland
Inquiries: Ari Väisänen (09) 1734 2290, Veli Rajaniemi (09) 1734 3434, Kalle Sinivuori (09) 1734 3524, tyovoimatutkimus@stat.fi
Director in charge: Riitta Harala
Publication in pdf-format (636.3 kB)
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Appendix tables
- Appendix table 1. Key indicators in the Labour Force Survey by sex 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 2. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 3. Population by sex and age 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 4. Active population by sex and age 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 5. Activity rates by sex and age 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 6. Employed persons by sex and age 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 7. Employment rates by sex and age 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 8. Employed persons aged 15-74 by status in employment 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 9. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 10. Employed persons aged 15-74 by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 11. Part-time employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 12. Proportion of part-time employed persons in all employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2010/12 - 2011/12, % (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 13. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 14. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2010/12 - 2011/12, % (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 15. Unemployed persons by sex and age 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 16. Unemployment rates by sex and age 2010/12 - 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 17. Unemployment rates by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2010/12 - 2011/12, persons aged 15-74 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 18. Seasonally adjusted trends 2011/12 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 19. Key indicators in the Labour Force Survey by sex 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 20. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 21. Population by sex and age 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 22. Active population by sex and age 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 23. Activity rates by sex and age 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 24. Employed persons by sex and age 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 25. Employment rates by sex and age 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 26. Employed persons aged 15-74 by status in employment 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 27. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 28. Employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 29. Hours actually worked of employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 30. Employed persons aged 15-74 by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 31. Employed persons aged 15-74 by region (2011) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 32. Part-time employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 33. Proportion of part-time employed persons in all employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2010/IV - 2011/IV, % (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 34. Employees aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 35. Hours actually worked of employees aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 36. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 37. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2010/IV - 2011/IV, % (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 38. Different types of employment relationships less than 12 month's duration 2010/IV - 2011/IV, persons aged 15-74 (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 39. Different types of employment relationships less than 12 month's duration 2010/IV - 2011/IV, persons aged 15-74, % (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 40. Unemployed persons by sex and age 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 41. Unemployment rate by sex and age 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 42. Unemployment rates by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Appendix table 43. Unemployment rates by region (2011) 2010/IV - 2011/IV (24.1.2012)
- Figures
- Quality descriptions
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- Quality Description: Labour force survey (24.1.2012)
Updated 24.1.2012
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF):
Labour force survey [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-7857. December 2011. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 17.8.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tyti/2011/12/tyti_2011_12_2012-01-24_tie_001_en.html