Lapland’s economy outpaces rest of Finland with 4.2% business revenue growth

Lapland’s business turnover rose by 4.2% last year to nearly €17 billion, far exceeding the national average of 1.6%, according to a new economic report by the Regional Council of Lapland.

Tourism and mining drove the growth, with tourism revenues climbing alongside a record number of winter visitors. The mining sector saw a 17.5% increase in turnover compared to the previous year. Construction also expanded by 5.6%, defying the downturn seen elsewhere in Finland—largely due to tourism-related development, said Heino Vasara, the council’s strategic director.

Small and mid-sized industrial firms performed particularly well, growing turnover by 2.4%, while large-scale industry—dominated by Outokumpu, Metsä Group, and Tapojärvi—saw a modest 0.8% uptick. Cross-border contracts with Swedish mining operations in northern Sweden further boosted local subcontractors, especially near the western border.

Despite the revenue growth, employment in Lapland remained flat at around 62,000 full-time positions, matching last year’s levels. Vasara attributed this to efficiency gains in production. Nationally, employment fell by 1.9% across all sectors.

While Lapland’s growth is unlikely to single-handedly reverse Finland’s broader economic slowdown, Vasara noted its role in providing job opportunities for unemployed workers from southern Finland.