Recent employment statistics indicate a concerning rise in the number of unemployed job seekers in Finland, with a notable 6.3% increase as of the end of January compared to the previous year. Currently, there are over 346,000 unemployed job seekers in Finland, which marks an increase of 20,600 individuals from the previous January. Furthermore, the report highlights a decrease in available job vacancies, with 9,300 fewer open positions compared to last year, indicating a challenging job market for those seeking employment.

Regionally, the unemployment statistics reveal stark differences across various areas of Finland. The highest percentage of unemployed job seekers can be found in Päijät-Häme, where 15.7% of the workforce is unemployed. Other regions showing high unemployment rates include North Karelia at 15.4%, Central Finland at 15.3%, and Kymenlaakso at 15%. In contrast, Åland Islands boasts the lowest unemployment rate at 5.6%, and other regions such as Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Lapland, and Central Ostrobothnia also report below-average unemployment rates.

The overall national average for unemployment now stands at 12.6%. Additionally, Statistics Finland noted that the number of employed individuals aged 15-74 has decreased by 25,000 compared to last year, emphasizing the ongoing challenges within the Finnish employment landscape. These trends raise concerns about the economic recovery and potential actions needed to address the rising unemployment rates across various regions of the country.