Number of unemployed foreign jobseekers falls slowly but employment and participation rate remain high

According to the September 2021 Employment Bulletin, the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers continues to fall much more slowly than the number of unemployed Finnish jobseekers following the pandemic. At the same time, there is regional variation in the unemployment rate. However, the employment and participation rates of those born abroad have risen.

The figures in the review for August show that:

• The trend in employment among foreigners is mixed. While the employment rate grows, the number of unemployed falls only slowly. 
  • According to the Employment Service Statistics, the decrease in the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers has been significantly slower compared with the number of unemployed Finnish jobseekers. 
  • On the other hand, the Labour Force Survey shows that in the second quarter of 2021 the employment and participation rates of those born abroad were at the highest level ever recorded. If the Survey’s figures are based on real development rather than selection bias, it appears that the lower-than-average decrease in the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers is primarily explained by a number of them entering the labour market. 
  • The simultaneous growth in employment and unemployment is typical at the beginning of the growth cycle.
• In August 2021, there were 33,792 unemployed foreign jobseekers, which is 1,043 fewer (-3%) than in August 2020 and 5,500 fewer (-14%) than in July 2021.
  • Unemployment varies between regions. The number of unemployed foreign jobseekers fell sharply in South Ostrobothnia (-28%) and South Savo (-22%), but grew in Kainuu (+22%) and Uusimaa (+2%) from last year.
  • There is also a significant difference in unemployment between age groups. Of unemployed foreign jobseekers, unemployment among those aged under 25 fell (-13%), but increased among those over 50 (+4%).
  • There is also divergence in unemployment based on nationality. Of the largest nationalities, unemployment among Chinese (-19%) and UK citizens (-18%) fell significantly, whereas unemployment among citizens of Iraq (+15%) and Syria (+14%) increased considerably.
  • Long-term unemployment among foreigners remains high, but the number of long-term unemployed decreased for the first time since March 2020. However, the number of foreigners who have been unemployed for more than two years continued to grow.

On the basis of the register data of the Employment Service Statistics and the survey data of the Labour Force Survey, the Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration publishes a monthly review of employment among foreign citizens and foreign-language speakers and of their participation in employment promotion services.

September 2021 overview of unemployment of foreign citizens and foreign-language speakers and their participation in employment promotion services (in Finnish)

Read more: 
Employment bulletins (in Finnish)