Number of enterprises opening falls, closure ups

The number of enterprise openings decreased by three per cent in the second quarter of 2019 from the respective quarter in 2018, according to Statistics Finland.

The number of enterprise closures, in turn, were nearly one-and-a-half times higher in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the year before.

There were 8,381 enterprise openings in April to June 2019. There were 264 or three per cent fewer enterprise openings than in the corresponding period in 2018.

Examined by industry, the number of enterprise openings was highest in professional, scientific and technical activities.

Altogether 1,360 enterprises were opened in this industry, which was 16 per cent of all enterprise openings in the second quarter.

There were second most enterprise openings in the industry of construction, 1,057 enterprises and third most in trade, 885 enterprises. The number of enterprise openings increased most in the industry of transport and storage (+212) and decreased most in trade (-205) compared with the second quarter of 2018.

Examined by region, most enterprise openings were recorded in Uusimaa, 3,302 enterprises. The number of enterprise openings was next highest in Pirkanmaa (783) and Southwest Finland (720). The number of enterprise openings decreased most in North Ostrobothnia (-114) and increased most in Uusimaa (+41) compared with the corresponding period in 2018.

Examined by sub-regional unit, the number of enterprise openings was highest in the sub-regional unit of Helsinki, 3,123 enterprises. There were 635 enterprise openings in the sub-regional unit of Tampere and 524 in the sub-regional unit of Turku. The number of enterprise openings decreased most in the sub-regional unit of Oulu (-88) year-on-year and clearly grew most in the sub-regional unit of Helsinki (+59).

Examined by municipality, most enterprise openings were recorded in Helsinki, 1,619 in the second quarter of 2019. The number of enterprise openings was second highest in Espoo (511), Vantaa (418), Tampere (413) and Turku (346). Compared to the second quarter of 2018, enterprise openings rose most in Vantaa (+62) and decreased most in Oulu (-60).

Examined by legal form, in the second quarter of 2019 enterprise openings of the form of natural person numbered 5,136 and those of the form of limited company 2,752. Enterprise openings of the form of natural person accounted for 61 per cent and those of the form of limited company for 33 per cent of all enterprise openings.

There were 6,500 enterprise closures in January to March 2019. The number of enterprise closures grew by as much as 41 per cent from the first quarter of 2018 when there were around 1,900 fewer enterprise closures.