DATA SNAP: Finnish July Unemployment 7.7% Vs 9.1% In June

Finland's unemployment rate dropped sharply in July, as more students found summer work, data showed Tuesday.

The Nordic country's jobless rate fell to 7.7% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis in July from 9.1% in June and 10.9% in May, Statistics Finland said.

Students typically flood the labor market in May, boosting the unemployment rate. The level then usually falls in June and July, as those students gain employment.

That pattern held this year. But the national statistics agency highlights that the unemployment rate in July of this year is 2.5 percentage points higher than July of 2008.

This is due to a general weakening of the labor market this year as Finland's export-oriented economy struggles amid the global economic downturn.

The rate is expected to continue to climb this year.