## Finland: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Finland

_IMF Staff Country Reports, January 15, 2019_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Finland: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Finland](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/01/15/finland-2018-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-and-statement-by-the-46518)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/01/15/finland-2018-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-and-statement-by-the-46518/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/01/15/finland-2018-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-and-statement-by-the-46518/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/01/15/finland-2018-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-and-statement-by-the-46518/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: January 15, 2019
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484393482.002

---

### Key findings
- Recent growth has been healthy.
- The unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since 2011.
- Underlying weaknesses:
  - The rate in which new jobs are created and the “churn” of workers relocating across jobs has not picked up with the recovery.
  - Labor productivity growth remains weak.
  - The outlook for potential growth is constrained by a shrinking workforce.
- Financial vulnerabilities:
  - Household debt has been increasing as the economy has recovered.
  - Some borrowers appear vulnerable to interest rate increases.

### Analytical themes
- Labor market dynamics
  - Employment has improved, but job reallocation and worker mobility remain subdued.
  - Structural factors limiting labor productivity growth are highlighted.
- Potential growth constraints
  - Demographic trends leading to a shrinking workforce are a drag on potential GDP growth.
- Financial stability and household balance sheets
  - Rising household debt amid recovery raises concerns about borrower vulnerability to rate rises.

### Publication and document specifics
- Title: Finland: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Finland
- Date: January 15, 2019
- Pages: 63
- Volume: 2019
- Issue: 007
- Series: Country Report No. 2019/007
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484393482.002
- Stock No: 1FINEA2019001
- ISBN: 9781484393482
- ISSN: 1934-7685

### Subjects and keywords
- Subject: Financial institutions, Housing, Income, Labor, Labor markets, Loans, National accounts
- Keywords: consumer confidence, CR, damage confidence, demand, employment growth, Europe, financial system, Global, holding, household debt, Housing, Income, ISCR, Labor markets, liability positions vis-a-vis nonresident, Loans, market, potential GDP, public finance, rate, weight floor

*IMF Staff Country Reports — Finland: 2018 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Finland (January 15, 2019).*

---

## Content in this bundle

- **Country Report**
  - [Country Report (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2019/cr1907.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Country Report (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/cr/2019/cr1907.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2019/01/15/finland-2018-article-iv-consultation-press-release-staff-report-and-statement-by-the-46518_