The Jyväskylä Region comprises ten municipalities with a total population of over 160 000. The Jyväskylä Region is one of Finland's five centres of growth and an important industrial area. 11 000 of the region's jobs are in industry. In terms of people employed the largest branch of industry - and also the region's strongest area of expertise - is machinery and equipment. The next largest industrial branches are basic metals and metal products, as well as the graphic industry. Electronics, food, wood products and papermaking also rank among the region's strong branches of industry.
The management of papermaking forms the foundation of industry in Central Finland. For example, the world's largest supplier of papermaking lines, Metso Paper, has a facility in Jyväskylä.
Within the scope of the Jyväskylä Region's centre of expertise programme active efforts are being made to develop technologies related to papermaking, energy, the environment, IT and wellness.
Alvar Aalto's town: Jyväskylä, Finland's ninth largest city, is the rapidly growing centre of the Jyväskylä region. It is also a youthful student town. The University of Jyväskylä, for example, is one of Finland's most popular institutions of higher education. The university is well known for its beautiful campus and Finland's only Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences.
Other major educational institutions in the city are Jyväskylä Polytechnic and Jyväskylä Vocational Institute. Inhabitants of Jyväskylä have a high level of education: over two thirds have a degree. Also part of Jyväskylä is the previously independent island municipality of Säynätsalo in Lake Päijänne, which is famous for its buildings designed by Alvar Aalto.
Its central location, large number of events and high-quality fair and congress services make Jyväskylä a busy city of tourism and professional gatherings. Particularly in summer major events bring large numbers of visitors to the Jyväskylä Region. The region's main international events are Jyväskylä Arts Festival and Neste Rally Finland. In 2002 Neste Rally Finland won the accolade of best event in the World Rally Championship calendar for its excellent arrangements and smooth running.
Alvar Aalto's architecture and Finland's largest garden centre Viherlandia also attract visitors, as do Viherlaakso - a land of fantasy and adventure for children - and a wide variety of cruises on Lake Päijänne, Finland's third largest lake.
Total 167 329 (March 31, 2004)
Jyväskylä 82740 [136,9 km2]
Jyväskylä Rural Municipality 33989 [534,0 km2]
Hankasalmi 5581 [690,0 km2]
Korpilahti 5017 [794,0 km2]
Laukaa 16969 [825,0 km2]
Muurame 8464 [193,8 km2]
Petäjävesi 3688 [495,0 km2]
Suolahti 5452 [67,5 km2]
Toivakka 2379 [413,0 km2]
Uurainen
3050 [373,0 km2]