Number of job vacancies in Finland rises to pre-pandemic level

Signs of stabilization continue to reach the Finnish labor market in 2021.

According to Statistics Finland's data, the number of open job vacancies was 51,100 in the second quarter, while the figure was 35,400 one year before.

The number of open job vacancies returned to the level that preceded the coronavirus pandemic two years ago.

In the second quarter, a total of 37,100 job vacancies (73%) were in establishments owned by private enterprises, while one year earlier the corresponding share was 70%.

Compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, the number of open job vacancies increased especially in the private sector (+12,400) and in establishments with at least 10 employees.

In absolute numbers, the increase was especially noticeable in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region, where 5,800 more vacancies were registered than in the previous year.

Trade, transportation

Examined by industry, job vacancies increased most (+6,700) in the group of trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food service activities.

In the second quarter, 36% of all open job vacancies were fixed-term jobs and 21% were part-time positions.

Employers estimated that 58% of the open job vacancies were hard-to-fill, while the corresponding share one year earlier was 44%. For example, establishments in human health and social work activities, construction, and accommodation and food service activities had plenty of jobs considered hard to fill.