Pirkanmaa unemployment hits 13% as long-term joblessness jumps 29%

Pirkanmaa's unemployment rate rose to 13 percent in September, while long-term unemployment climbed nearly 29 percent year-on-year, according to YLE.

The rise continues a recent trend. In August Pirkanmaa had 35,298 unemployed jobseekers, according to earlier regional figures.

The region had 34,980 unemployed jobseekers in September, 4,453 more than a year earlier, leaving Pirkanmaa above the national average of 11.8 percent. That's a sharp increase. Those unemployed for more than a year numbered 15,365, up 3,428, while people out of work over two years rose by 1,955 to 7,661. The largest concentrations of unemployed were in service and sales work, specialist professional roles, and construction, repair and manufacturing jobs.

Municipal differences are stark. Tampere recorded the highest unemployment rate at 15.6 percent, followed by Urjala at 14.5 percent; Pälkäne had the lowest rate at 7.2 percent and both Pirkkala and Ylöjärvi stood at 8.6 percent. Unemployed numbers grew most in Tampere, up by 2,642, with increases also in Nokia, Ylöjärvi, Akaa, Lempäälä, Sastamala and Kangasala.

Vacancies in Pirkanmaa have been higher than a year earlier for several months, offering some relief. Nationwide, however, the number of unemployed and laid-off rose by 15,966, leaving 324,871 jobseekers across Finland, including 12,124 laid off.