Finland’s unemployment rate has climbed to its highest point this century, according to Yle News. The latest figures show the country has not recorded a higher level of unemployment since 1998.

The increase in jobseeking is typical for May, when students and recent graduates begin looking for work and enter the labour market. That seasonal rise helps explain why the figures moved up now, even as the broader unemployment picture remains weak.

The new numbers underline how difficult the labour market has become for jobseekers in Finland. They also suggest that the coming months will be closely watched for signs of whether the rise is temporary or part of a longer trend.