Number of enterprise openings increases 6%

There were 6,429 enterprise openings in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to Statistics Finland.

Enterprise openings increased by 6.0 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2016, when they numbered 6,066.

Examined by industry, the number of enterprise openings was highest in professional, scientific and technical activities, where they numbered 1,090, or 17.0 per cent of all enterprise openings in the fourth quarter.

In trade, enterprise openings numbered 907 (14.1%) and in construction 872 (12.8%). Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, the number of enterprise openings increased most in professional, scientific and technical activities (108) and decreased most in real estate activities (-62).

Examined by region, the number of enterprise openings was highest in the fourth quarter of 2017 in Uusimaa, where it was 2,458. The number of enterprise openings was next highest in Pirkanmaa (598), in Varsinais-Suomi (573) and in North Ostrobothnia (573). Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, the number of enterprise openings increased most in North Ostrobothnia (80) and decreased most in Ostrobothnia (-12).

Examined by sub-regional unit, in the fourth quarter of 2017, the number of enterprise openings was highest in the sub-regional unit of Helsinki (2,336), followed by the sub-regional units of Tampere (511), Turku (403), Oulu (284) and Jyväskylä (205). Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, enterprise openings increased most in the sub-regional unit of Tampere (90) and decreased most in the sub-regional unit of Vaasa (-22).

Examined by municipality, the highest numbers of enterprise openings were recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 in Helsinki (1,251), followed by Espoo (396), Tampere (300), Vantaa (250), Oulu (235) and Turku (234). Compared to the fourth quarter of 2016, enterprise openings increased most in Espoo (59) and decreased most in Helsinki (-40).

Examined by legal form, in the fourth quarter of 2017, enterprise openings of the form of natural person numbered 3,116 and those of the form of limited company 2,843. Enterprise openings of the form of natural person accounted for 48.5 per cent and those of the form of limited company for 44.2 per cent of all enterprise openings.