In 2021, the number of vacancies increased from the previous year. The Employment and Economy Development Offices had a total of 1,057,400 vacancies in 2021, up by 315,900 on the previous year. The number of new vacancies reported to Employment and Economic Development Offices during the year totalled 1,011,000, which is 324,000 more than in 2020. During 2021, 135,000 of the vacancies were filled. Compared to the previous year, the number of vacancies increased in areas of all the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre). The increase was greatest for Uusimaa (81,400), Pirkanmaa (52,500) and Southwest Finland (35,800). Compared to the previous year, the number of vacancies increased most in plant and machine operators, and assemblers (79%), managers (62%), service and sales workers (52%) and clerical support workers (47%). On average, the number of vacancies per month during 2021 amounted to 155,800, of which 84,200 were new vacancies.

In 2021, the number of jobseekers registered at Employment and Economic Development Offices totalled 885,500, down 179,000 (-17%) on the previous year. The number of jobseekers decreased in areas of all ELY Centres. The decrease was greatest in Ostrobothnia (-24%), South Ostrobothnia (-21%) and South Savo (-21%) When examined by occupational group, the number of jobseekers decreased from the previous year in all groups, the greatest decrease being in the groups of unknown (-23%), professionals (-21%), technicians and associate professionals (-21%) and managers ( 18%). The average duration of a job-seeking period was 65 weeks. During 2021, a total of 911,500, job-seeking periods were completed, 48 per cent of them ending with employment in the open labour market. In 2021, the average number of jobseekers at the end of the month was 624,400, representing a decrease of 42,500 on the previous year.

The number of unemployed jobseekers decreased in 2021. A total of 628,800 people were registered as unemployed jobseekers in 2021, which is 207,900 (-25%) less than in the previous year. Compared to 2020, the number of unemployed jobseekers decreased in the areas of all ELY Centres: the decrease was greatest in Ostrobothnia (-36%), South Ostrobothnia (-31%), Southwest Finland (-26%), Southeast Finland (-26%), North Savo (-26%), Pirkanmaa (-26%), South Savo (-26%) and Häme (-26%). Of all the unemployed jobseekers, 54 per cent were men. The most-affected age group was 25 to 34-year-olds, representing 25 per cent of those unemployed. The majority of unemployed jobseekers had upper secondary level qualifications (52%). The average duration of completed spells of unemployment was 23 weeks, while for continuing spells of unemployment the average duration was 57 weeks. In 2021 65 per cent of unemployed people had been at work before their spell of unemployment began. Correspondingly, 48 per cent of completed spells 563,200 of unemployment during the year ended with employment in the open labour market. In 2021, a total of 298,600, people on average were registered as unemployed jobseekers at the end of the month, a decrease of 43,800 people on the previous year.