September employment figures show sharp drop in jobless

Some 17,000 more people in work than 12 months previously

print this

Figures released on Tuesday by Statistics Finland would indicate that the number of jobless fell appreciably in September. The raw data suggests a year-on-year decline of 21,000 to 183,000. This would make it the first time since 1991 that the jobless total has dipped below 200,000.
      A Statistics Finland spokesman confirmed that the fall is of sufficient size to indicate a real shift from last year. The unemployment rate dropped to 7.2%, from 8.0% in September 2003.
      Figures put out by the Ministry of Labour tell much the same story, although the number of unemployed job-seekers in their records declined by only 1,600 on the previous year. The labour exchange files still registered 270,800 people seeking work at the end of September.
     
As a natural corollary, the numbers of those employed rose in September. According to Statistics Finland the employment rate was up by 0.4 %-points to 67.2%.
     
Improvements have been seen in particular in the service sector. It is probable that some have decided to go into business for themselves, which is reflected in an increase in jobs in places such as laundries and hairdressing outlets. On the other hand, jobs in industry continued to decline.
      One mitigating factor for the possible optimism surrounding the latest figures is that a good many people seem to have secured work on fixed-term contracts.
      The numbers of those in part-time or fixed-term contract work rose by 46,000 in the Statistic Finland tables.
      Nevertheless, the trend appears to be one of improvement after a setback in August. This was then interpreted as a product of the common swings found during the summer months.


Links:
  Statistics Finland: Employment and Unemployment in September 2004

Helsingin Sanomat