Finnish Jobless Rate Hits 4-Month High

Finland’s unemployment rate rose to 10.4% in September 2026 from 9.1% in the same month last year, marking the highest level since May. The number of unemployed increase by 39,000 from a year earlier to 298,000, comprising 159,000 men and 139,000 women. By gender, the male unemployment rate rose to 10.9%, while the female rate increase to 9.8%, 1.1 percentage points higher than a year earlier. Among younger workers aged 15–24, the unemployment rate ticked up to 22.0%, which was 5.4 percentage points higher than a year earlier. Meanwhile, employment decrease by 11,000 to 2.578 million, bringing the labour force participation rate to 69.0% from 68.3% a year earlier. The employment rate for those aged 20–64 also climbed to 75.1% from 75.9%.

Finland’s unemployment rate declined to 9.1% in August 2026 from 9.3% in the same month last year, marking the lowest level since September 2025. The number of unemployed decreased by 5,000 from a year earlier to 262,000, comprising 140,000 men and 122,000 women. By gender, the male unemployment rate remained at 9.2%, while the female rate fell to 8.9%, 0.5 percentage points lower than a year earlier. Among younger workers aged 15–24, the unemployment rate rose to 16.9%, which was 0.3 percentage points higher than a year earlier. Meanwhile, employment increased by 34,000 to 2.628 million, bringing the labour force participation rate to 69.4% from 68.7% a year earlier. The employment rate for those aged 20–64 also climbed to 77.3% from 76.2%.

Finland’s unemployment rate rose to 9.9% in July 2026 from 9.3% in the same month last year, although this marked the lowest level since December 2025. The number of unemployed increased by 20,000 year-on-year to 289,000, comprising 150,000 men and 139,000 women. By gender, the male unemployment rate eased to 10.0%, 0.2 percentage points lower than a year earlier, while the female rate increased to 9.8%, up 1.5 percentage points. Among younger workers aged 15–24, the jobless rate also edged up to 16.9%, just 0.1 percentage points higher year-on-year. Meanwhile, employment was unchanged at 2.637 million, even as the labour force participation rate rose to 70.2% from 69.8% a year earlier. The employment rate for those aged 20–64 also inched down to 76.4% from 76.5%