Jari Lindström is spearheading efforts to tackle the rising long-term unemployment rates in Kouvola, Finland, which have surged among the highest in the country.
The number of long-term unemployed individuals in the Kymenlaakso region has experienced a significant increase, with a 33% rise in those unemployed for over a year, marking the highest percentage in Finland. The situation is particularly acute in Kouvola, where over 2,000 residents have been jobless for more than a year as of January. The national increase in long-term unemployment during the same period was reported at 24%. Given this alarming trend, local authorities are prioritizing strategies aimed at reducing long-term unemployment, focusing especially on Kouvola.
