Labour market review – employment area of Espoo and Kauniainen, September 2025

In September 2025, there were a total of 18,005 unemployed jobseekers in the employment area of Espoo and Kauniainen, including 645 people who were temporarily laid off. The number of unemployed jobseekers has increased by about 8.6% compared with last year.

Unemployment has continued to rise, but the rate of increase has slowed down. However, a longer period is needed before any permanent change in the trend can be assessed. In September, the share of unemployed people in the labour force was 10.7% in Espoo and 8.1% in Kauniainen – both below the national average of 11.4%. Among unemployed jobseekers in the employment area of Espoo and Kauniainen, 42.6% were foreign-language speakers. The number of unemployed foreign-language speakers has increased by 7.4% compared with the previous year.

A review of unemployment by age group shows that unemployment has risen in all age groups compared with the previous year. Unemployment among young people under 30 has risen by 8.4%, compared with the previous year. In September 2025, there were a total of 3,497 unemployed people under the age of 30. Unemployment among people over 55 has increased by 366 persons, or around 9.8%, from one year ago. In September 2025, there were 4,099 unemployed jobseekers aged over 55.

The majority of the unemployed jobseekers in the employment area of Espoo and Kauniainen held upper secondary qualifications (6,593 persons), but there were almost as many with university degrees (6,474 persons). There were 3,017 unemployed persons with only comprehensive school education in September 2025.  

Long-term unemployment remains at an alarming level in Espoo and Kauniainen. In September 2025, there were 7,895 long-term unemployed persons, defined as individuals who have been unemployed continuously for at least one year. Over the past year alone, their number increased by 40.0%. The average job search duration among unemployed jobseekers in July  2025 was 75 weeks. This is nine weeks longer than in September 2024. Long-term unemployment increased in all age groups except for the youngest jobseekers (aged 15–19). Long-term unemployment among those with university degrees rose the most in relative terms, by approximately 52%.
Both the overall activation rate and the activation rate among foreign nationals in Espoo and Kauniainen were above the national average in September 2025. In the employment area, the activation rate was 24.9%, compared to the national average of 21.9%. The activation rate among foreign nationals was 41.5% in Espoo and Kauniainen and 38.8% nationwide. [1]

During August  2025, there were 1,013 new job vacancies in the employment area of Espoo and Kauniainen, a decrease of 80 from the previous year. However, when comparing the number of vacancies and unemployed jobseekers, it is important to note that the commuting area is much broader than the employment area. During September 2025, there were 6,112 new job vacancies in Uusimaa, a decrease of 28.3% from the previous year.  However, not all vacancies are published through public employment services. Therefore, the number of vacancies should be regarded as indicative only.  

Sources: KEHA Centre’s employment service statistics; Statistics Finland’s employment service statistics. Employment Bulletin, Uusimaa, September 2025, ELY Centre.

[1] The KEHA Centre’s employment service statistics have contained gaps regarding people participating in employment services. This may affect the activation rate. The activation rate refers to the percentage of people participating in active employment services out of the total number of unemployed jobseekers and participants in services. (Statistics Finland, Työelämä tilastoina)