Finland's Economic Struggles Deepen Amid Rising Unemployment

Finland faces its highest unemployment rate in over 15 years, with August figures showing a 10% jobless rate, according to Statistics Finland. The country struggles with persistent economic stagnation amid global economic challenges, compounded by the war in Ukraine, which has dried up trade with Russia and increased energy costs.

The Finnish economy has contracted and only seen minimal growth in recent years, with government forecasts predicting just a 1% growth this year. Austerity measures by the right-wing coalition aimed at controlling public deficit have inadvertently dampened economic growth further and led to widespread layoffs.

Finance Minister Riikka Purra defended these policies amidst parliamentary debate, highlighting Finland's growing budget deficit and debt ratio, both exceeding EU limits. She emphasized the critical nature of addressing unemployment, which she termed the country's biggest challenge.