The unemployment of foreigners has decreased over the year in the South Häme employment area.

The number of unemployed foreign job seekers in the South Häme employment area (EHTA) has decreased by five percent over the year: there were 339 in July 2025 and 356 in July 2024. Across Finland, the number of unemployed foreign job seekers has increased by 9.5 percent during this period.

The South Häme employment area includes Riihimäki, Janakkala, Hausjärvi, and Loppi. In Riihimäki, there were 283 unemployed foreign job seekers in July, 56 in Janakkala, 18 in Hausjärvi, and 18 in Loppi. In Hausjärvi, the number of unemployed foreign job seekers was 25 percent lower in July than a year earlier, and in Riihimäki, it was eight percent lower. There are several reasons for the positive employment development of foreigners, at least in Riihimäki:
– The city of Riihimäki has invested in Finnish language education for a couple of years, as language skills open many doors. Additionally, the city has enhanced cooperation with companies, which lowers the threshold for companies to recruit foreigners. With the employment service reform, the quality of personal services has also improved, says the integration manager Juha Hiltunen from the South Häme employment area.

According to Integration Manager Hiltunen, net immigration in Riihimäki increased by 374 people, by 12 people in Hausjärvi, by 26 people in Janakkala, and by 24 people in Loppi between July 2025 and July 2024. At the same time, the proportion of unemployed foreign job seekers in the South Häme employment area has decreased by 6.4 percent over the year: it was 31.1 percent at the end of July 2025 and 37.5 percent at the end of July 2024.

Read the full press release on EHTA’s website.