Regional unemployment trends show stability in Kanta-Häme and Lapland

Regional labor market data from August shows varying trends in Finnish provinces. In Kanta-Häme, the unemployment rate stood at 10.9%, which is the sixth lowest among Finnish provinces. While the number of unemployed individuals is rising, the growth has been more moderate compared to much of the country. However, long-term unemployment remains a concern, with 3,662 people unemployed for over a year and 1,865 unemployed for over two years.

In Lapland, unemployment decreased in August following seasonal patterns, with the rate at 9.8%, the fifth lowest among provinces. The number of unemployed job seekers was just over 8,080, a decrease of 1,260 from the previous month. Positive trends were noted in the reduction of laid-off workers, as well as decreases in unemployment among women and youth. Long-term unemployment in Lapland also saw a slight decline during this period.