Finland Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Finland's unemployment rate was 9.46% in 2025, ranked 146th globally. This represents a 12.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Finland's unemployment rate stood at 9.46% in 2025, a rise of +1.07pp from 2024. The IMF projects 8.95% by 2025. Finland ranked 146th globally.
Finland’s unemployment rate has risen sharply from a low of 3.11 % in 1989, the all‑time trough, to a peak of 17.00 % during the 1995 post‑recession shock, before gradually declining to 5.29 % in 1980 and then hovering around the mid‑single digits for much of the early twenty‑first century. By 2025 the rate stood at 9.46 %, placing Finland 146th in the world and virtually matching the 9.45 % recorded for St. Lucia, its nearest peer in the latest ranking. The 46‑year series reflects the structural adjustments of the 1990s, the later impact of global financial turbulence, and the recent labour‑market pressures associated with technological change and demographic ageing. Although the current level remains elevated relative to the 1980s trough, the modest decline from the 2023 peak suggests a gradual rebalancing, and continued policy focus on active labour‑market programmes and skills upgrading could further steer the rate downward in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 8.26% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 8.35% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 8.52% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 8.59% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 8.66% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 8.95% | - | - |
| 2025 | 9.46% | +1.07pp | #146 |
| 2024 | 8.40% | +1.17pp | #139 |
| 2023 | 7.15% | +0.38pp | #131 |
| 2022 | 6.72% | −0.89pp | #121 |
| 2021 | 7.62% | −0.15pp | #121 |
| 2020 | 7.76% | +1.02pp | #117 |
| 2019 | 6.70% | −0.73pp | #122 |
| 2018 | 7.36% | −1.46pp | #122 |
| 2017 | 8.64% | −0.33pp | #130 |
| 2016 | 8.82% | −0.76pp | #130 |
| 2015 | 9.38% | +0.55pp | #134 |
| 2014 | 8.66% | +0.34pp | #124 |
| 2013 | 8.19% | +0.39pp | #117 |
| 2012 | 7.69% | −0.21pp | #109 |
| 2011 | 7.78% | −0.72pp | #113 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Finland matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Finland's unemployment rate was 9.46% in 2025. Ranked 146th globally. This represents a 12.7% increase from the previous year.
Finland's unemployment rate peaked at 17.01% in 1995.
The lowest unemployment rate in Finland was 3.11% in 1989.
Finland ranks 146th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Finland's unemployment rate is projected to reach 8.95% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Finland in 2025 was 9.46%. This ranks 146th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_finland_unemployment-rate,
title = {Finland Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/finland/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}