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Finland's climate and soils make growing crops a particular challenge. The country has severe winters and relatively short growing seasons that are sometimes interrupted by frost. However, because the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift Current moderate the climate, Finland contains half of the world's arable land north of 60° north latitude. Annual precipitation is usually sufficient, but it occurs almost exclusively during the winter months, making summer droughts a constant threat. In response to the climate, farmers have relied on quick-ripening and frost-resistant varieties of crops, and they have cultivated south-facing slopes as well as richer bottomlands to ensure production even in years with summer frosts. Drainage systems are often needed to remove excess water. Finland's agriculture has been efficient and productive—at least when compared with farming in other European countries.[138]
Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of the world's leading wood producers and providing raw materials at competitive prices for the crucial wood processing industries. As in agriculture, the government has long played a leading role in forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements, and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country's forests continue to supply the wood-processing industries.[138]
As of 2008, average purchasing power-adjusted income levels are similar to those of Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France.[150] In 2006, 62% of the workforce worked for enterprises with less than 250 employees and they accounted for 49% of total business turnover.[151] The female employment rate is high. Gender segregation between male-dominated professions and female-dominated professions is higher than in the US.[152] The proportion of part-time workers was one of the lowest in OECD in 1999.[152] In 2013, the 10 largest private sector employers in Finland were Itella, Nokia, OP-Pohjola, ISS, VR, Kesko, UPM-Kymmene, YIT, Metso, and Nordea.[153] The unemployment rate was 6.8% in 2022.[154]
As of 2022, 46% of households consist of a single person, 32% two persons and 22% three or more persons.[155] The average residential space is 40 square metres (430 sq ft) per person.[156] In 2021, Finland's GDP reached €251 billion.[148] In 2022, altogether 74 per cent of employed persons worked in services and administration, 21 per cent in industry and construction, and four per cent in agriculture and forestry.[157]
Finland has the highest concentration of cooperatives relative to its population.[158] The largest retailer, which is also the largest private employer, S-Group, and the largest bank, OP-Group, in the country are both cooperatives.
The free and largely privately owned financial and physical Nordic energy markets traded in NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe and Nord Pool Spot exchanges, have provided competitive prices compared with other EU countries. As of 2022, Finland has the lowest non-household electricity prices in the EU.[160]