In December 2017, there were 5 005 000 employed persons aged 15─74, not seasonally adjusted, which was an increase of 112 000 compared with December 2016. The number of employed men was 2 636 000, an increase of 89 000, and the number of employed women was 2 369 000. The employment rate was 67.3 percent, an increase of 0.9 percentage points. Among women the employment rate was 64.8 percent and among men it was increased by 1.7 percentage points and amounted to 69.8 percent. Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows a continued increase in both the number of employed persons and in the employment rate compared with recent months. The number of employed persons was 5 058 000, which corresponds to an employment rate of 68.1 percent.

The number of employees aged 15─74 in December 2017 increased by 109 000 and amounted to 4 506 000, not seasonally adjusted. Among men the number of employees was 2 268 000, an increase of 74 000. Among women the number of employees was 2 238 000. The number of permanent employees in the same period increased by 69 000 and amounted to 3 769 000. Among men the number of permanent employees was 1 934 000, an increase of 51 000. Among women the number of permanent employees was 1 835 000. The number of temporary employees amounted to 736 000. The number of employees in the private sector increased by 87 000 and amounted to 3 000 000. This was the sixth consecutive month that the number of private sector employees increased. Compared with nearby months, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows an increase in the number of permanent employees and in the number of temporary employees.

On average, the number of hours worked in December 2017 amounted to 147.1 million per week, not seasonally adjusted. Calendar-adjusted figures show an increase of 1.8 percent compared with December 2016. Smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows an increase in the number of hours worked per week. On average, the number of hours worked amounted to 153.6 million per week in December 2017.

In December 2017, the number of unemployed persons aged 15─74 amounted to 321 000, not seasonally adjusted, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 6.0 percent. The number of unemployed men amounted to 168 000, a decrease of 25 000, and the number of unemployed women amounted to 154 000. Among men the unemployment rate was 6.0 percent, a decrease of 1.0 percentage points.

Among women the unemployment rate was 6.1 percent. The number of unemployed young people aged 15─24 was 87 000, of whom 45 000 were full-time students. The unemployment rate among young people was 15.1 percent. Among persons aged 15–74, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows a decrease in both the number of unemployed persons and in the unemployment rate. The number of unemployed persons was 353 000 in December 2017, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent. Among young people aged 15─24, smoothed and seasonally adjusted data shows a decrease in both the number of unemployed persons and in the unemployment rate. The number of young people who were unemployed was 109 000, which corresponds to an unemployment rate of 17.2 percent.

2018-02-15 at 9:30.