Unemployment rate of young men higher than women

A total of 296,500 persons were unemployed at the end of 2017, according to Statistics Finland.

There were 38,700 unemployed aged 18 to 24. Among young men, the share of unemployed in the labour force was higher than among women in all regions.

Around every third unemployed young person had also been unemployed in the previous year. Forty-one per cent of unemployed persons aged 18 to 24 did not belong to families.

In 2017, there were 296,500 persons unemployed, of whom 13 per cent were aged 18 to 24. According to preliminary data, the unemployment rate of persons aged 18 to 24 was around 15 per cent. The share of unemployed in the working-age labour force (aged 18 to 64) was 11 per cent.

Examined by region, the unemployment rate of those aged 18 to 24 was highest in Kymenlaakso, where 24 per cent of the labour force in the age group were unemployed.

The unemployment rate of men aged 18 to 24 was 18 per cent, the corresponding rate for women was seven percentage points lower (11 per cent). The difference between sexes in the unemployment rate varied by region: The difference was biggest in South Karelia, where the unemployment rate of young men was 14 percentage points higher than that of women. Correspondingly, the difference was smallest in Åland, where the unemployment rate of young men was one percentage point higher than that of women.

The share of women among unemployed persons aged 18 to 24 was 39 per cent. The share varies by region: The share of women was smallest in Kainuu: 32 per cent, and biggest in Åland, 43 per cent.