Statistics Finland has reported a significant decline in job vacancies in Finland, with an average of 34,100 positions open in 2025, representing a 22% decrease from 2024. The last quarter of the year saw approximately 22,700 vacancies, which is a 31% drop compared to the previous year and marks the lowest figure since 2016. Matti Lahdenmäki, a senior statistician at Statistics Finland, noted that the number of available positions has halved compared to the levels in 2022.

The decrease in job vacancies was particularly pronounced in part-time positions, which were reduced to half of the previous year's numbers. Conversely, the share of fixed-term jobs saw a notable increase, with 43% of the available positions last year being temporary. This shift in the labor market raises concerns about job security and the nature of available employment opportunities as Finland navigates through economic challenges.

Regionally, the largest drop in vacancies occurred in the West Finland region, where openings decreased by 34%. In the capital region, the decline was more moderate at 17%. These statistics point to a wider trend of labor market contraction that may affect economic recovery and highlight the urgency for policy adjustments to create more sustainable employment opportunities in the future.