Statistics on unemployment protection in Finland (OFS)
The statistics on unemployment protection in Finland are produced collaboratively by Kela and the Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA). They provide a general picture of income replacement in the event of unemployment. These statistics cover the unemployment benefits paid by unemployment funds and by Kela. They also cover benefits provided by Kela paid out during participation in employment-promoting measures, job alternation compensations, and commuting and relocation allowances.
Latest release
30.10.2024
Expenditure on unemployment benefits amounted to EUR 3,820 million in 2023. Unemployment funds accounted for a total of EUR 1,888 million and Kela for EUR 1,932 million.
Following a sharp decline in the previous year, nominal expenditure on unemployment benefits increased slightly in 2023. Overall benefit expenditure increased 4% over 2022, with the expenditure on earnings-related benefits up by 2.6% and the expenditure on basic benefits by 4.8%. In real terms, the expenditure on unemployment benefits decreased 2.4% from the previous year.
A total of 327,763 persons received unemployment benefits at year-end 2023, which represents 9.8% of the Finnish population between ages 17 and 64. The percentage of recipients in the population varied by municipality between 3.6 and 18.3. The highest rates of benefit receipt were seen in Eastern Finland. Sixty percent of the recipients were on basic unemployment benefit.
Statistical publications
- Statistical Yearbook on Unemployment Protection in Finland
- Kela Statistical Yearbook
- Pocket Statistics
- Kela’s statistics in charts
Statistical Database Kelasto
Click the link to generate a dynamic and editable report from the database. How to work with reports in Kelasto.
- Provision of unemployment benefits in Finland: Number of recipients and benefits paid out
- Provision of unemployment benefits in Finland: Number of recipients at year-end
Additional information
Contact information
Markus Valle
Tuomas Sarparanta
tilastot@kela.fi
