Economy, jobs and prices in Kainuu (Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi, Finland): official figures
GDP per person was 32,600 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 82% of the EU average (102% for Finland); 16th highest of 19 regions in Finland.
How big is the economy of Kainuu?
The local economy produced €2.7 billion of output (GDP) in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people work in Kainuu?
About 33,410 people worked in Kainuu in 2024 (employment by place of work).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median income in Kainuu Finland?
In 2024 the median household in the region of Kainuu had €28,747 a year per consumption unit to spend after taxes and benefits, 4th lowest among Finland's 19 regions, about the same as in 2019.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow much do people earn in Kainuu Finland?
The typical adult resident of Kainuu took home €24,576 after tax in 2024 (3rd lowest among Finland's 19 regions).
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many entrepreneurs are there in Kainuu Finland?
Entrepreneurs made up 8.9% of employed residents of Kainuu in 2024, below the national figure of 10.1%; that is the lowest among Finland's 19 regions.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyAre there enough jobs in Kainuu Finland?
Jobs in Kainuu amounted to 100.8% of the employed labour force living there in 2023, 5th highest among Finland's 19 regions.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyWhat is the dependency ratio in Kainuu Finland?
For every 100 employed residents, Kainuu had 160 residents who were not in work in 2024 (5th highest among Finland's 19 regions; Finland 133), down from 164 in 2019.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyAre jobs growing in Kainuu Finland?
The number of jobs located in Kainuu changed by -2.1% in the five years to 2023, 7th lowest among Finland's 19 regions (Finland +1.8%).
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many tech jobs are there in Kainuu Finland?
In 2023, 4.3% of the jobs in Kainuu were in information and communication, 9th highest among Finland's 19 regions.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Kainuu Finland?
Manufacturing accounted for 8.3% of jobs in Kainuu in 2023, below the national figure of 12.4%; that is 3rd lowest among Finland's 19 regions.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many people work in tourism in Kainuu Finland?
Hotels, restaurants and other accommodation and food services employed 3.4% of the workforce in the region of Kainuu in 2023, below the national figure of 3.6%.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Kainuu Finland?
Register-based employment statistics counted 11.9% of the labour force in Kainuu as unemployed at the end of 2024, above the national figure of 11.7%, up from 11.6% in 2019.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many people commute in Kainuu Finland?
20.6% of employed residents of Kainuu worked outside their home municipality in 2023, against 35.8% nationally.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Kainuu?
The largest part of the economy of Kainuu in 2024 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 26.9% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (22.0%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Kainuu?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 21.4% of output in 2024, against 20.4% for Finland.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Kainuu growing?
Gross value added rose from €1.7 billion in 2015 to €2.4 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 40% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Kainuu?
Of the 33,410 jobs located in Kainuu in 2024, 48% in public services, education, health and other services, 11% in industry and 6.0% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Kainuu?
The number of people working in Kainuu rose by 3.1% between 2015 and 2024, to 33,410.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Kainuu compares with other regions in Finland
Median disposable income per consumption unit (€ a year) (2024)
Kainuu ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Median disposable income per consumption unit (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Etelä-Pohjanmaa | €29,061 |
| 14 | Päijät-Häme | €28,892 |
| 15 | Etelä-Karjala | €28,853 |
| 16 | Kainuu | €28,747 |
| 17 | Keski-Suomi | €28,643 |
| 18 | Etelä-Savo | €28,534 |
| 19 | Pohjois-Karjala | €27,558 |
Median personal disposable income of adults (€ a year) (2024)
Kainuu ranks 17 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Median personal disposable income of adults (€ a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Pohjois-Savo | €25,016 |
| 14 | Päijät-Häme | €24,953 |
| 15 | Keski-Suomi | €24,818 |
| 16 | Etelä-Karjala | €24,704 |
| 17 | Kainuu | €24,576 |
| 18 | Etelä-Savo | €24,230 |
| 19 | Pohjois-Karjala | €23,560 |
Entrepreneurs as a share of employed people (%) (2024)
Kainuu ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Entrepreneurs as a share of employed people (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Pirkanmaa | 9.9% |
| 14 | Pohjois-Pohjanmaa | 9.7% |
| 15 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 9.6% |
| 16 | Etelä-Karjala | 9.4% |
| 17 | Pohjanmaa | 9.3% |
| 18 | Kymenlaakso | 9.0% |
| 19 | Kainuu | 8.9% |
Workplace self-sufficiency (jobs per employed resident, %) (2023)
Kainuu ranks 5 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Workplace self-sufficiency (jobs per employed resident, %) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 104.4% |
| 3 | Keski-Pohjanmaa | 101.5% |
| 4 | Pohjanmaa | 101.5% |
| 5 | Kainuu | 100.8% |
| 6 | Lappi | 100.1% |
| 7 | Satakunta | 99.7% |
| 8 | Etelä-Savo | 98.9% |
Economic dependency ratio (non-employed per 100 employed) (2024)
Kainuu ranks 5 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Economic dependency ratio (non-employed per 100 employed) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Etelä-Savo | 165 |
| 3 | Etelä-Karjala | 163 |
| 4 | Kymenlaakso | 161 |
| 5 | Kainuu | 160 |
| 6 | Päijät-Häme | 157 |
| 7 | Keski-Suomi | 151 |
| 8 | Pohjois-Savo | 148 |
Change in the number of jobs over five years (%) (2023)
Kainuu ranks 13 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Change in the number of jobs over five years (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Keski-Pohjanmaa | -1.3% |
| 11 | Etelä-Pohjanmaa | -1.6% |
| 12 | Pohjois-Karjala | -1.6% |
| 13 | Kainuu | -2.1% |
| 14 | Päijät-Häme | -2.3% |
| 15 | Satakunta | -2.4% |
| 16 | Åland | -3.1% |
Share of jobs in the information sector (%) (2023)
Kainuu ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of jobs in the information sector (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Åland | 5.2% |
| 7 | Pohjois-Savo | 4.9% |
| 8 | Pohjois-Karjala | 4.4% |
| 9 | Kainuu | 4.3% |
| 10 | Pohjanmaa | 3.9% |
| 11 | Kanta-Häme | 3.8% |
| 12 | Päijät-Häme | 3.8% |
Share of jobs in manufacturing (%) (2023)
Kainuu ranks 17 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of jobs in manufacturing (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Pohjois-Pohjanmaa | 13.1% |
| 14 | Kymenlaakso | 12.8% |
| 15 | Pohjois-Savo | 12.0% |
| 16 | Lappi | 8.4% |
| 17 | Kainuu | 8.3% |
| 18 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 8.1% |
| 19 | Åland | 6.4% |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Kainuu ranks 11 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Päijät-Häme | 23.3% |
| 9 | Kanta-Häme | 22.8% |
| 10 | Pirkanmaa | 22.0% |
| 11 | Kainuu | 21.4% |
| 12 | Etelä-Pohjanmaa | 21.3% |
| 13 | Pohjois-Karjala | 20.6% |
| 14 | Kymenlaakso | 19.6% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Kainuu ranks 15 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Etelä-Pohjanmaa | 23.5% |
| 13 | Keski-Suomi | 23.5% |
| 14 | Pohjois-Pohjanmaa | 23.0% |
| 15 | Kainuu | 22.0% |
| 16 | Lappi | 20.7% |
| 17 | Pohjanmaa | 20.5% |
| 18 | Satakunta | 20.2% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Kainuu ranks 7 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Pohjois-Savo | 27.8% |
| 5 | Lappi | 27.6% |
| 6 | Etelä-Karjala | 27.3% |
| 7 | Kainuu | 26.9% |
| 8 | Etelä-Pohjanmaa | 26.0% |
| 9 | Kanta-Häme | 25.9% |
| 10 | Pohjois-Pohjanmaa | 25.8% |
More on Kainuu: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi · Finland
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus): Regional time series 1987-2025 (table 142h, Municipal key figures database): population, housing, education, employment and jobs by NUTS region, region and municipality (PxWeb API POST query, json-stat2, years 2015-2025), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 18a97e220312…)
- Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus): Income level, income inequality, population at risk of poverty or dependent on basic social security by region (table 14ww, Income distribution statistics), 2015-2024 (PxWeb API POST query, json-stat2), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4dd1f64e4da5…)
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