Published: 28 January 2021
Employment weakened clearly in December
According to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, the number of employed people was 74,000 lower in December 2020 than one year ago. There were 48,000 more unemployed than in December 2019. The trend of the employment rate was 71.8 per cent and the trend of the unemployment rate was 8.2 per cent.
Employment rate and trend of employment rate 2009/12–2020/12, persons aged 15–64
![Employment rate and trend of employment rate 2009/12–2020/12, persons aged 15–64](tyti_2020_12_2021-01-28_tie_001_en_001.gif)
Employment and unemployment vary quite considerably by month and the change from the observation of the previous month mainly describes the seasonal aspect rather than the trend in development. Thus, the latest statistical data are compared to the corresponding period of the year before. By contrast, the figures of the trend series that are adjusted for seasonal and random variation are mutually comparable and phenomena associated with long-term development and cyclical changes are thus more easily observable from the trend of the time series.
The trend usually changes somewhat when the data of the following month are included in the time series. This preliminary nature of trend figures should be considered when making conclusions. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is untypical variation in the time series in 2020, which is why uncertainty related to trend figures is higher than usual. In connection with the calculation of the September data, the fall in employment in the spring was interpreted as a level shift in the seasonal adjustment model, because employment has not returned to the same level during the past six months. The level shift is visible as a steep change in the trend graphs. The figures reported in this release are not adjusted for seasonal variation unless separately mentioned that they concern the trend. Find out more about the trend here .
The trend of the employment rate was 71.8 per cent in December and the trend of the unemployment rate was 8.2 per cent. Based on the seasonally adjusted data for December, both the trend of the employment rate and the trend of the unemployment rate have remained nearly unchanged since October.
In December 2020, the number of employed persons was 2,496,000 (margin of error ±36,000), which was 74,000 lower than a year earlier. There were 26,000 fewer employed men and 48,000 fewer employed women than in December 2019.
In December, the employment rate , that is, the proportion of the employed among persons aged 15 to 64, stood at 70.7 per cent, having been 73.0 per cent one year earlier. From the previous year’s December, the employment rate of men aged 15 to 64 fell by 1.9 percentage points to 71.5 per cent and that of women by 2.7 percentage points to 70.0 per cent.
According to Statistics Finland's Labour Force Survey, there were 212,000 unemployed in December 2020 (margin of error ±21,000), i.e. 48,000 more than one year earlier. The number of unemployed men was 119,000 and that of women 93,000.
The unemployment rate was 7.8 per cent in December, having been 6.0 per cent in the year before. The unemployment rate for men rose by 2.3 percentage points from the previous year’s December to 8,4 per cent. The unemployment rate for women rose by 1.4 percentage points to 7.2 per cent.
In December, there were a total of 607,000 young people aged 15 to 24 . Of them, 226,000 were employed and 56,000 unemployed. Thus, the number of young people in the active population, i.e. the employed and unemployed in total, was 282,000. 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 20.0 per cent, which was 5.2 percentage points higher than one year previously. The trend of the unemployment rate among young people was 20.4 per cent. The share of unemployed young people aged 15 to 24 among the population in the same age group was 9.3 per cent.
There were 1,421,000 persons in the inactive population in December 2020, which was 23,000 more than one year earlier. Of the inactive population, 129,000 persons were in disguised unemployment , which was 14,000 more than in December 2019.
Changes in employment 2019/12 – 202012 according to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, population aged 15 to 74
Year/Month | Change | ||
2019/12 | 2020/12 | 2019/12 - 2020/12 | |
1000 persons | Per cent, % | ||
Population total | 4 132 | 4 129 | –0,1 |
Active population total | 2 734 | 2 708 | –1,0 |
Employed | 2 570 | 2 496 | –2,9 |
– employees | 2 201 | 2 134 | –3,1 |
– self-employed persons and unpaid family workers | 369 | 361 | –2,0 |
Unemployed | 164 | 212 | 29,5 |
Inactive population | 1 398 | 1 421 | 1,7 |
– Persons in disguised unemployment | 115 | 129 | 12,2 |
Per cent, % | Percentage points | ||
Employment rate, persons aged 15–64 | 73,0 | 70,7 | –2,3 |
Unemployment rate | 6,0 | 7,8 | 1,8 |
Activity rate | 66,2 | 65,6 | –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 2020
The average number of employed in the fourth quarter of 2020 (October to December) was 2,522,000, which was 35,000 lower than in the corresponding quarter of 2019. The number of employed persons decreased most in human health and social work activities (Q), accommodation and food service activities (I) and transportation and storage (H).
The number of hours worked by employed persons was 0.9 per cent lower in the fourth quarter of 2020 than in the corresponding period in 2019.
The average number of unemployed persons in the fourth quarter of 2020 was 200,000, which was 36,000 more than in the October to December period of 2019. The unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of the year was 7.4 per cent, which was 1.3 percentage points higher than a year earlier.
In the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of people in the inactive population was 1,407,000, which was almost the same as one year earlier. Of the inactive population, 125,000 persons were in disguised unemployment , which was 5,000 more than in the corresponding period of 2019.
Changes in employment 2019/IV – 2020/IV according to Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey, population aged 15 to 74
Year/Quarter | Change | ||
2019/IV | 2020/IV | 2019/IV - 2020/IV | |
1000 persons | Per cent (%) | ||
Active population total | 2 721 | 2 722 | 0,1 |
Employed persons total | 2 557 | 2 522 | –1,4 |
Unemployed total | 164 | 200 | 22,1 |
– men | 92 | 109 | 18,2 |
– women | 72 | 91 | 27,1 |
Inactive population | 1 410 | 1 407 | –0,2 |
– Persons in disguised unemployment | 120 | 125 | 3,9 |
Unrounded figures are used in the
Change column. The data comply with the ILO/EU definition. |
Labour Force Survey annual averages for 2020
In 2020, the average number of employed persons was 2,528,000, which was 37,000 lower than in 2019. In 2020, the employment rate was 71.6 per cent, having been 72.6 per cent in 2019.
The rate of unemployment was, on average, 7.8 per cent in 2020, having been 6.7 per cent in 2019. In 2020, the average number of unemployed persons was 213,000, which was 29,000 more than in the year before.
The number of hours worked by employed persons was approximately 1.9 per cent lower in 2020 than in 2019. The amount of labour input or hours actually worked per employee fell slightly from 2019.
The annual averages from the Labour Force Survey for the year 2020 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 2020 and on time series data for 2011 to 2020 will be released on 4 March 2021.
Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
At the end of December 2020, there were altogether 357,000 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 100,000 higher than in December in the previous year.
Unemployment rose in December from the previous year’s corresponding period in the areas of all Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment: most in Uusimaa (61%), Ostrobothnia (51%), Southwest Finland (43%), Pirkanmaa (35%) and Lapland (35%). The number of unemployed job seekers grew least in Kainuu (8%), North Karelia (19%), Southeast Finland (20%) and South Savo (22 %). At the end of December, the number of persons fully laid off registered at the employment and economic development offices was 78,000, which was 56,000 more 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 3,000 lower than in December of the previous year. Altogether, 4.0 per cent of the labour force was covered by labour market policy services.
There were 44,000 unemployed job seekers aged under 25 registered at the employment and economic development offices. Their number was 11,000 higher than in December of the year before. During December, 50,000 new vacancies were reported to the employment and economic development offices, which was 5,000 fewer than in December 2019.
Changes 2019/12–2020/12 according to the Employment Service Statistics of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Year/Month | Change | ||
2019/12 | 2020/12 | 2019/12 - 2020/12 | |
1000 persons | Per cent, % | ||
Unemployed job seekers | 258 | 357 | 38,7 |
– unemployed over a year | 63 | 92 | 46,0 |
Services, total | 111 | 108 | –2,8 |
– employed | 23 | 23 | –0,9 |
– in labour market training, in training | 21 | 24 | 14,0 |
– engaged in work/training trials | 7 | 5 | –19,4 |
– as a job alternation substitute, in rehabilitative work, self-motivated studies supported by unemployment benefit | 61 | 56 | –7,6 |
New vacancies at employment and economic development offices | 55 | 50 | –9,0 |
Unrounded figures are used in the Change column. |
Contact information for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and
Employment:
Petri Syvänen, tel. +358 29 504 8050, Employment
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Links
Publication and dissemination of Labour Force Survey data in the early part of 2021
The new classification of the employer sector was adopted in the Labour Force Survey starting from 1 January 2020. Comparison data according to the new classification of employer sectors for 2019 are published only in the appendix tables of the monthly and quarterly releases.
Labour Force Survey tables in databases
Seasonally adjusted time series of the key figures of the Labour Force Survey have been added to Database Table 11ag on 24 November 2020.
About seasonally adjusted trend
The accuracy of figures and the margins of error are explained in the quality description of the Labour Force Survey .
The latest seasonally adjusted employment figures published by the
EU and
the latest data on open job vacancies published by the EU can
be found on
Eurostat's home page http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
.
Source: Labour force survey 2020, December. Statistics Finland
Inquiries: Tatu Leskinen 029551 3285, Ulla Hannula 029 551 2924, tyovoimatutkimus@stat.fi
Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala
Publication in pdf-format (749.4 kB)
- Tables
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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 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 2. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 3. Population by sex and age 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 4. Active population by sex and age 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 5. Activity rates by sex and age 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 6. Employed persons by sex and age 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 7. Employment rates by sex and age 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 8. Employed persons aged 15-74 by status in employment 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 9. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 10. Employed persons aged 15-74 by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 11. Part-time employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 12. Proportion of part-time employed persons in all employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2019/12 - 2020/12, % (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 13. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 14. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2019/12 - 2020/12, % (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 15. Unemployed persons by sex and age 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 16. Unemployment rates by sex and age 2019/12 - 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 17. Unemployment rates by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2019/12 - 2020/12, persons aged 15-74 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 18. Seasonally adjusted trends 2020/12 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 19. Key indicators in the Labour Force Survey by sex 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 20. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 21. Population by sex and age 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 22. Active population by sex and age 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 23. Activity rates by sex and age 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 24. Employed persons by sex and age 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 25. Employment rates by sex and age 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 26. Employed persons aged 15-74 by status in employment 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 27. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 28. Employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 29. Hours actually worked of employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 30. Employed persons aged 15-74 by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 31. Employed persons aged 15-74 by region (2011) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 32. Part-time employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 33. Proportion of part-time employed persons in all employed persons aged 15-74 by sex 2019/IV - 2020/IV, % (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 34. Employees aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 35. Hours actually worked of employees aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 36. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 37. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship 2019/IV - 2020/IV, % (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 38. Different types of employment relationships less than 12 month's duration 2019/IV - 2020/IV, persons aged 15-74 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 39. Different types of employment relationships less than 12 month's duration 2019/IV - 2020/IV, persons aged 15-74, % (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 40. Unemployed persons by sex and age 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 41. Unemployment rate by sex and age 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 42. Unemployment rates by Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 43. Unemployment rates by region (2011) 2019/IV - 2020/IV (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 44. Key indicators in the Labour Force Survey by sex in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 45. Population aged 15-74 by labour force status and sex in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 46. Employment rates by sex and age in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 47. Employed person aged 15-74 by educational level and sex in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 48. Employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 49. Hours actually worked by employed persons aged 15-74 by industry (TOL 2008) in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 50. Employed persons aged 15-74 by employer sector and sex in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 51. Employed persons aged 15-74 by region (2011) in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 52. Employees aged 15-74 by type of employment relationship and sex in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 53. Unemployment rates by sex and age in 2018 - 2020 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 54. Unemployment rates by region (2011) in 2018 - 2020, persons aged 15-74 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix table 55. Unemployment rates by educational level and sex in 2018 - 2020, persons aged 15-74 (28.1.2021)
- Figures
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- Appendix figure 1. Employment rate and trend of employment rate 2009/12 - 2020/12, persons aged 15 - 64 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix figure 2. Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 2009/12 - 2020/12, persons aged 15 - 74 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix figure 3. Employment rate and trend of employment rate 1989/01 - 2020/12, persons aged 15 - 64 (28.1.2021)
- Appendix figure 4. Unemployment rate and trend of unemployment rate 1989/01 - 2020/12, persons aged 15 - 74 (28.1.2021)
- Quality descriptions
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- Quality Description: Labour force survey (28.1.2021)
Updated 28.1.2021
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF):
Labour force survey [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-7857. December 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 17.8.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tyti/2020/12/tyti_2020_12_2021-01-28_tie_001_en.html