The YTK Barometer gives a comprehensive picture of the unemployment situation in Finland

Topics

• Barometer
• Unemployment
• YTK

The large sample of more than half a million members provides valuable information on the unemployment situation in the country and its development.

The YTK Unemployment Fund publishes monthly statistics on the unemployment rate of its members in the YTK Barometer.

With over half a million members, the YTK Unemployment Fund is the largest unemployment fund in Finland. Its members come from all sectors and from all over Finland. Based on a broad target population, the YTK Barometer provides comprehensive information on the unemployment situation in Finland.

The YTK Barometer makes visible the trends in the unemployment situation. It is a good tool for journalists, politicians, policy makers, researchers and employers.

Transparency is important

The YTK Unemployment Fund uses the YTK Barometer to increase the transparency of its activities and provide up-to-date information on social conditions and their development. Transparency improves trust and supports social debate.

Differences in statistics

Unemployment statistics differ somewhat. In addition to the YTK Barometer, other established sources of unemployment statistics are Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey and the Employment Survey of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

The YTK barometer figures are based on unemployment benefits paid to members of the YTK Unemployment Fund. Statistics Finland’s figures include persons actively looking for work during the survey week and those who may start work soon. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy, on the other hand, focuses on jobseekers who are not employed or employed on a full-time basis.

Differences in statistics lead to different unemployment figures due to differences in definitions and populations. Internationally comparable data on unemployment in Finland are produced by Statistics Finland. However, Statistics Finland’s definition of the unemployed is the most restrictive of the three, so Statistics Finland’s unemployment figures are typically lower than those of TEM or YTK.

Petja Eklund

Senior Specialist

YTK’s Petja Eklund has made enough mistakes to call himself a Senior Specialist. And it is special indeed that the YTK has such a renaissance genius who blogs from about anywhere. To the point and analyses, but rarely is he able to resist the temptation to mix in humour. Despite all his virtues, Eklund is always manages to defend mankind and an open society. Norms and institutions are for citizens, never the other way around.