More enterprises open in Q1 year on year

A total of 10,154 enterprises opened in the country during the first quarter of 2018, according to Statistics Finland.

The number of enterprise openings increased by 10.2 per cent from that in the first quarter of 2017 when they numbered 9,210.

Examined by industry, enterprise openings were most numerous in professional, scientific and technical activities, where they numbered 1,580, or 15.6 per cent of all enterprise openings in the first quarter. In trade, the number of enterprise openings was 1,259 (12.4%) and in construction 1,034 (10.2%). Compared to the first quarter of 2017, the number of enterprise openings increased most in service activities (76) and decreased most in trade (-99).

Examined by region, the number of enterprise openings was the highest in Uusimaa, standing at 3,719. The number of enterprise openings was the next highest in Varsinais-Suomi (945), in Pirkanmaa (896) and in North Ostrobothnia (417). Compared to the first quarter of 2017, the number of enterprise openings increased most in Uusimaa (369) and decreased most in Ostrobothnia (-51).

Examined by municipality, the highest number of enterprise openings was in Helsinki (1,897), followed by Espoo (584), Tampere (474), Turku (406), Oulu (389) and Vantaa (364). Compared to the first quarter of 2017, the number of enterprise openings increased most in Helsinki (230) and decreased most in Riihimäki (-18).

Examined by legal form, in the first quarter of 2018, enterprise openings of the form of natural person numbered 5,607 and those of the form of limited company 3,926. Enterprise openings of the form of natural person accounted for 55.2 per cent and those of the form of limited company for 38.7 per cent of all enterprise openings.