Number of unemployed foreign jobseekers fell in October but regional differences remain great

According to the November Employment Bulletin, the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers fell by 6% from October 2020. The number of unemployed jobseekers decreased significantly in South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Åland, Lapland and Pirkanmaa, whereas in some regions the number of unemployed jobseekers grew.

The figures in the review for October show that:

• In October 2021, the number of unemployed foreign jobseekers, including those laid off, totalled 30,253. The number was 6% lower than in October last year (compared with a drop of 17% among Finnish citizens during the same period).
• The trend in unemployment among foreign citizens varied greatly in the areas of different ELY Centres. The number of unemployed foreign jobseekers in Southwest Finland and Kainuu increased slightly from the previous year (2%–4%). Meanwhile, the number of unemployed people decreased significantly in South Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Åland, Lapland and Pirkanmaa (18%–35%). In Uusimaa, the decrease was very moderate (3%).
• Although long-term unemployment has fallen slightly, the number of people who have been unemployed for more than two years is still increasing.
• In other respects, the trend is quite similar to the previous months: unemployment among men (-9%) decreased faster than among women (-3%) and among those under the age of 25 (-14%) clearly faster than among those over the age of 50 (0%). Unemployment among people with a refugee background is at a higher level than in the previous year and markedly higher than before the pandemic.

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.

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

Further information:
Employment Bulletin