11 December 1997
Inquiries: Mr Tapio Oksanen tel. +358 9 1734 3228,
Mr Hannu Siitonen tel. +358 9 1734 3225,
Ms Salme Kiiski tel. +358 9 1734 3230 or Mr Timo Koskimäki tel.
+358 9 1734 3517
Statistical director in charge: Mr Risto Lehtonen
Higher employment rate in the services sector
According to the Labour Survey of Statistics Finland, there were 1 823 000 wage earners in November, which is a good 30 000 more than the year before. Jobs increased most in the public and other services, and in the trade sectors.
There were 328 000 unemployed people in November, which is nearly 60 000 fewer than a year earlier. The unemployment rate, i.e. the proportion of the unemployed of the total labour force, was 13.2 per cent, or 2.2 percentage points lower than in November 1996. The unemployment rate of men was 12.4 and, of women, 14.1 per cent.
Unemployment diminished most in the construction sector. However, the rate of unemployment, at 20.7 per cent, remained the highest in this sector.
The unemployment rate among young, 15 to 24-years-old, was 20.3. per cent. 7.8 per cent of this total age group of 643 000 were unemployed.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 13.4 per cent.
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| Changes in the labour force 11/1996 - 11/1997, 1 000 persons | |||||
| November | October | November | CHANGE, % | ||
| 1996 | 1997 | 1997 | 11/96 - 11/97 | ||
| Employed wage earners | 1 790 | 1 832 | 1 823 | 1.8 | |
| Processing industries | 510 | 540 | 511 | 0.1 | |
| Service sector | 1 235 | 1 251 | 1 275 | 3.3 | |
| other industries | 45 | 41 | 37 | -18.5 | |
| Employed entrepreneurs + | |||||
| assisting family members | 331 | 320 | 336 | 1.5 | |
| Employed, total | 2 121 | 2 155 | 2 160 | 1.8 | |
| Unemployed, total | 387 | 324 | 328 | -15.2 | |
| under 25 years of age | 59 | 54 | 50 | -16.0 | |
| Unemployment rate, % | 15.4 | 13.1 | 13.2 | -2.2 1 | |
| under 25 years of age, % | 26.2 | 22.4 | 20.3 | -5.9 1 | |
| Economically inactive | |||||
| aged 15 to 74 | 1 346 | 1 388 | 1 380 | 2.5 | |
| Unrounded figures are used in the CHANGE column. | 1 percentage points | ||||
In addition to the unemployed, there were approximately 100 000 people in November who could have accepted a job, but were not looking for one. Of this concealed unemployment total, 22 000 were not pursuing work because they considered it fruitless. Approximately 78 000 were not seeking a job because of studies, child care, or some other reason. Both above groups are classified as economically inactive. The total number of economically inactive persons in the 15 to 74-years-old age group was 1 380 000.
There were 250 000 part-time employees in November. Of these, 84 600 would have preferred working full-time.
On average, there were 42 000 more wage earners and 32 000 fewer unemployed in the January to November period than in the corresponding period in the previous year.
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Labour force and changes in January - November 1996 - 97, 1 000 persons (mean value) |
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| Jan-Nov. | Jan-Nov. | CHANGE | CHANGE, % | ||
| 1996 | 1997 | 1-11/96 - 1-11/97 | 1-11/96 - 1-11/97 | ||
| Employed wage earners | 1 802 | 1 844 | 42 | 2.3 | |
| processing industries | 525 | 539 | 14 | 2.7 | |
| service sector | 1 232 | 1 263 | 31 | 2.5 | |
| other industries | 45 | 42 | -3 | -7.3 | |
| Employed entrepreneurs + | |||||
| assisting family members | 327 | 323 | -4 | -1.3 | |
| Employed, total | 2 130 | 2 169 | 39 | 1.9 | |
| Unemployed, total | 403 | 371 | -32 | -7.8 | |
| under 25 years of age | 75 | 80 | 5 | 6.1 | |
| Unemployment rate, % | 15.9 | 14.6 | .. | -1.3 1 | |
| under 25 years of age, % | 28.3 | 27.2 | .. | -1.1 1 | |
| Economically inactive | |||||
| aged 15 to 74 | 1 317 | 1 321 | 4 | 0.3 | |
| Unrounded figures are used in the CHANGE column. | 1 percentage points | ||||
Impact of the revision on comparability
Statistics Finland revised the Labour Force Survey at the beginning of 1997 to better correspond to the concepts and definitions used by the European Union and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and to better meet the demands of international comparability. Although most of the effects of the revision were anticipated and the figures for November 1996 accordingly adjusted, year-on-year comparisons remain somewhat uncertain. The final revised figures for 1996 will be released in March 1998. Until then the revised data will remain preliminary.
This year it is advisable to assess the employment trend primarily on the basis of the changes in the number of wage earners. The adoption of the statistical principles of the EU at the beginning of this year makes comparisons especially in the numbers of entrepreneurs to the 1996 figures difficult.
The data for the Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland were collected by interviewing some 12 000 Finnish residents of working age. The data are from between November 10 and 16. The Labour Force Survey is a panel survey where over a period of 18 months each person is included five times in the sample.
Since the Labour Force Survey is a sample survey, random variation has to be taken into account when assessing the changes. The confidence interval in the November unemployment rate is ±0.5 percentage points.
The Ministry of Labour will publish its November figures next week
The Ministry of Labour also publishes statistics on unemployment. The data are on the number of unemployed jobseekers on the last working day of each month. The Ministry of Labour will release its data for November at the beginning of next week.
Owing to differences in methods and definitions, the unemployment figures issued by Statistics Finland and the Ministry of Labour are not fully comparable. However, the figures generally change in the same direction, so that the figures of the Ministry of Labour are some tens of thousands higher.
Source: Labour Force Survey,November 1997. Statistics Finland