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Finland suffers EU's worst unemployment for second month in a row

Finland's jobless rate was slightly higher than Spain's last month. Sweden was third with a considerably lower rate.

Two people seen from behind on a snowy day, about to enter a building with lettering on a large window saying 'Employment' in three languages.
Entering an employment office in Helsinki's Kamppi district in late December. Image: Henrietta Hassinen / Yle
  • Yle News

Finland still leads the EU in unemployment. According to figures released on Friday by the EU statistics bureau, Finland's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.3 percent in December.

Eurostat ranked Spain in second place with an unemployment rate of 10 percent. Sweden was third at 8.8 percent.

In general, the situation in Europe is brighter, as the average unemployment rate in EU countries was 5.9 percent in December. The lowest rate was in the Czech Republic: just 3.1 percent.

Finland first rose to the top of EU unemployment statistics in November.

On Tuesday, Statistics Finland said that the unemployment rate trend in December was 10.7 percent, edging up from 10.6 percent in November.

Earlier this month, employment minister Matias Marttinen (NCP) insisted that the government remains committed to its target of creating 100,000 new jobs during its term, which is set to end in 2027.