HELSINKI: The growth trend forecast for Lapland in 2015 was largely positive. The trend of turnover growth accelerated in a higher rate in 2015 compared to the rest of the country. The report was presented before the media at a briefing at the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) premises in Rovaniemi on May 9. The Lapland trend forecast 2016 was presented by Mervi Nikander, the Strategic Manager at Regional council of Lapland.
Driven by export rise in all the quarters of the year, the region’s turnover in last year posted a 3.3 per cent growth, which was slightly more than in 2014. The number of personnel changes in all sectors in Lapland had remained minimal in the recent years. The growth in 2015 was mainly propelled by the companies employing 20 or more persons.
Growth was posted in 2015 in all the sectors monitored by the tax administration and Statistics Finland including industrial, construction, trade, and catering. In 2015, the turnover increased by 3.3 per cent from that in 2014, which in its turn had risen by 1.2 per cent from that in the previous year. In the industrial sector, the turnover improved by 8.5 per cent compared to 2014, while in the construction, trade, and accommodation and catering sectors, the revenue increased by 4.6, 1.5 and 4.7 per cent respectively.
The number of employees in all sectors, including the public sector, in the Rovaniemi sub-region increased by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2015 compared to that in the corresponding period of 2014. However, the pace of personnel growth began to decline towards the end of the year. On an annual basis, however, the number of employees in 2015 decreased by 0.5 per cent compared to the previous year.
The trend data and information are sourced from the tax administration which covers all the VAT paying Finnish companies and individuals. The data is supplemented by Statistics Finland through conducting its own enquiries. Information related to the location where a company’s activities are based as well as the nature of the activities is obtained from the companies.
The Statistics Finland’s tailored trend indicator service produces annual data for the Lapland region on turnover, industrial export, number of personnel, tourism centres, and corporate groups. The trend forecast was compiled by the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres), the Lapland Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, Finnvera, Rovaniemen Kehitys Oy, and Sea-Lapland development centre.
