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17.1.2017 | Hallituskausi_2011-2015_fi-en.tmx Neuvottelutulos hallitusohjelmasta PROGRAMME OF THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT Avoin, oikeudenmukainen ja rohkea Suomi An open, fair and confident Finland Jyrki Kataisen hallituksen tavoitteena on välittävä ja menestyvä S...

17.1.2017 | Hallituskausi_2011-2015_fi-en.tmx Neuvottelutulos hallitusohjelmasta PROGRAMME OF THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT Avoin, oikeudenmukainen ja rohkea Suomi An open, fair and confident Finland Jyrki Kataisen hallituksen tavoitteena on välittävä ja menestyvä S...

18.2.2021 | Entrepreneurs and self-employed persons are entitled to labour market support because of the coronavirus pandemic under a temporary amendment to the Unemployment Security Act in force until the end of March. On 18 February 2021, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament to extend the right of entrepreneurs and self-employed persons to labour market support until 30 June 2021. The aim is to ensure the livelihood of entrepreneurs and self-employed persons during the pandemic.

28.1.2021 | The right of entrepreneurs to claim labour market support will continue until the end of June 2021. The Government decided on the matter on 27 January 2021 and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will start preparing the legislative amendment immediately.

20.1.2022 | Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support on more flexible terms during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament on Thursday 20 January 2022 to extend the temporary amendment.

21.5.2025 | English Style Guide A handbook for translators, revisers and authors of government texts Prime Minister’s Office, Finland ENGLISH STYLE GUIDE | PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, FINLAND | 2025 2 Contents Quick reference guide .................................

21.5.2025 | English Style Guide A handbook for translators, revisers and authors of government texts Prime Minister’s Office, Finland ENGLISH STYLE GUIDE | PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, FINLAND | 2025 2 Contents Quick reference guide .................................

3.2.2023 | More than 45,000 people who fled Ukraine last year may be eligible for a municipality of residence in 2023 after residing in Finland for one year, with about 13,000 already satisfying the qualifying period of residence in March–April. On registering a municipality of residence, they will leave the reception services system and become clients of municipalities and wellbeing services counties. This will make them a more integrated part of society in Finland.

13.6.2024 | The Government is seeking to strengthen the link between work and work-based residence permits, and to improve permit supervision. Worker’s residence permit holders in Finland would also have better opportunities to find new employment in sectors with a labour shortage. The Government proposal has been circulated for comments between 13 June and 16 August 2024.

17.10.2024 | The Government is seeking to strengthen the link between work and work-based residence permits, and to make permit supervision after the entry into Finland more systematic. The proposal takes the long recruitment times of specialists into consideration. At the same time, the proposal would offer foreigners more opportunities to find new work in the national labour shortage sectors. 

2.6.2025 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is organising a consultation round from 2 June to 28 July 2025 on legislative amendments to the grounds for fixed-term employment contracts, the duration of the notice period for layoffs and the re-employment obligation of employers. The proposed amendments have been prepared in a tripartite working group that was not unanimous in its work.

15.1.2026 | Under the proposal, a fixed-term employment contract could be concluded without a justified reason for a maximum of one year if certain conditions are met. The Government also proposes to shorten the notice period for lay-offs and to limit the employer’s obligation to re-employ dismissed employees. The proposal for the amendments was submitted to Parliament on 15 January 2026.

3.9.2024 | The 2025 budget proposal of Prime Minister Orpo's Government bolsters conditions for economic growth. Economic growth driven by the private sector will also serve to secure the financing base for central government finances. The fast-acting measures to curb indebtedness that were decided on due to the difficult situation in central government finances will move forward.

7.6.2022 | Speech to Parliament presenting the 2021 Government Annual Report for referral debate on Tuesday 7 June at 14.00

12.5.2021 | Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support because of the coronavirus pandemic. On 12 May 2021, the Government submitted a proposal to Parliament to extend the right of entrepreneurs to labour market support until 30 September 2021. The aim is to ensure the livelihood of entrepreneurs in the uncertain situation caused by the pandemic.

11.2.2022 | As part of its commitment to raise the employment rate, the Government decided on new employment measures on 11 February 2022 that will boost its existing measures.

26.1.2022 | Employment and economic development services (TE services) are set to be transferred to municipalities during 2024. The Government’s decision is related to its aim to raise the employment rate and to increase municipal responsibility for employment services. The reform will have a broad impact on the employees and duties of both TE Offices and municipalities.

9.2.2021 | At the request of Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen, Director General of Finnish Customs Hannu Mäkinen has formulated a proposal to improve the opportunities of people with partial work ability to find employment. Mäkinen proposes that Finland should take Sweden’s Samhall company as a model, but adapt it to the Finnish needs.

2.12.2021 | The Ministerial Working Group on Promoting Employment decided on 2 December 2021 on the funding model for the TE services reform 2024 as an incentive for municipalities to develop and offer efficient employment services. The ministerial working group also refined its previous outlines on tasks that are centralised nationally and tasks that are transferring to the municipalities.

15.6.2022 | The EU ministers responsible for employment and social affairs will meet at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) in Luxembourg on 16 June 2022. Finland’s representatives at the Council will be Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen. 

15.2.2023 | During 2019–2023, the Government’s working capacity programme sought solutions to the employment problems of people with impaired capacity to work. At the same time, the programme developed more effective services to support working capacity. The closing event of the programme on 15 February examined the employment of people with impaired work capacity from the perspective of social sustainability, inclusion and the service system.

14.12.2021 | The Ministerial Group on Employment outlined a separate solution for the TE services reform 2024, specifying responsibilities for financing integration services. The solution takes into account the special features of integration, but at the same time encourages municipalities to develop services and promote the integration and employment of immigrants at a very early stage of integration. 

10.11.2022 | On 10 November 2022, the Government proposed amendments to the Act on Funding Agency for Innovation Business Finland and Business Finland Oy and the Act on Public Employment and Business Service.

28.1.2022 | Entrepreneurs have been temporarily entitled to labour market support on more flexible terms during the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the deteriorating coronavirus situation, this temporary amendment will continue. The President of the Republic confirmed the legislative amendment on 28 January 2022, and it will enter into force on 31 January 2022.

8.6.2021 | A group of researchers led by Professor Markus Jäntti proposes that the Government implement measures that studies have shown to promote employment. The Government will examine these proposals when it prepares employment measures to strengthen the economy.

2.6.2021 | Due to the progress made in coronavirus vaccinations and the improved epidemiological situation, demand for labour is on the increase and the labour market is expected to grow sharply already this year. The employment rate will surpass the pre-epidemic level in 2023, but the number of unemployed jobseekers will remain above the level preceding the epidemic.

28.7.2023 | The EU has updated its Single Market Scoreboard especially with regard to the transposition of EU legislation in 2022. The results indicate that Member States have made some progress in implementing and enforcing the single market rules despite the shock to the single market caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland’s performance continues to be above EU average.

22.6.2022 | The labour market roadmap project aims to improve the match between jobs and workers. The data model built in the project uses data in more diverse ways than before. In this way, the special characteristics of different sectors can be considered in more detail in order to create a more accurate picture of the types of open vacancies, labour reserves and occupational differences. 

21.11.2023 | The Talent Boost programme on work-based and education-based immigration will continue in a revised form during this Government term. The aim is to provide Finland with skills that meet its needs and to strengthen economic growth, employment and innovation activities. The ministerial working group on employment and entrepreneurship approved the programme on 21 November 2023.

25.5.2022 | According to the labour market forecast extending until 2024, employment will improve in Finland. The number of employed people will continue to increase, but the rapid post-pandemic growth in employment is expected to slow down towards the end of 2023.

25.11.2021 | The reform aims to provide jobseekers and employers with digital services that will meet their needs better and that will ease the use of services. The overall reform includes a new service platform to promote the matching of jobs with workers and to improve job search and employment services.

23.11.2021 | In the future more advanced solutions will be needed to enable more detailed data collection from jobseekers and to update the data on the number and specific descriptions of open vacancies in real time. Digital platforms and artificial intelligence could propose to us in a cost-effective way where to target our efforts.     

2.3.2023 | Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen, Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero, Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen and Minister of Education Li Andersson stress the importance of smooth daily life for people who have fled Ukraine. Those who have secured a municipality of residence will have the same rights, services and duties as permanent residents in Finland.

21.12.2022 | On this page, you will find information on the changes that will affect the administrative branch of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. For more information on all these topics, see the links for additional information in the press release.

16.1.2023 | The report contains the results of the Labour Market Roadmap project by occupation and region and proposes solutions to improve the availability of labour. According to the report, that divides occupations into those suffering from labour shortage, mismatch or surplus, the increase in labour market mismatch is largely explained by the growing number of atypical employment relationships. 

18.4.2023 | The working capacity programme sought solutions to the known employment problems of people with impaired capacity to work in 2019–2023. At the same time, the programme developed more effective services to support working capacity. The final report of the working capacity programme contains information on the programme measures and their results.

23.11.2023 | The economic and employment situation in the regions has deteriorated and near-term expectations in many regions are more negative than before. However, the depressed economic trend is expected to be short-lived, with the outlook for the autumn of next year already looking brighter. This data comes from the publication Regional Development Prospects for autumn 2023, the results of which were presented at the Aluekehittämispäivät event in Lahti on 23 November.

19.5.2022 | A new digital service platform for jobseekers and employers, Job Market Finland, has been launched. The Job Market enables jobseekers to create and publish a job search profile, which helps both jobseekers and employers to find each other better than before. The new information system services of the TE Administration will be entirely functional by the end of 2023.

1.11.2023 | By the beginning of September 2023, more than 60,000 Ukrainians had applied for temporary protection in Finland. The report offers information on the employment, use of employment services and future plans of Ukrainians as well as the receptiveness of the Finnish society.

1.3.2023 | The reform of continuous learning, launched under the Government Programme, has promoted the opportunities of working-age people to improve their knowledge and skills, and increased the availability of skilled labour. The final report on the reform implementation and on the next steps was submitted on 1 March 2023 to the Members of Parliament who participated in the drafting of the parliamentary policy approaches for continuous learning. 

8.2.2023 | The lack of skilled labour is slowing Finland’s economic growth. Increasing cooperation between public and private sector employment agencies could alleviate the problem of labour shortages. An event on Wednesday 8 February will present different ways to improve the match between jobs and jobseekers. About 400 public and private sector employment agents will attend the event. 

29.2.2024 | The European Commission has proposed the creation of an EU Talent Pool with the aim of facilitating international recruitment to respond to skills and labour shortages. The Government submitted a Union communication on its position concerning the proposal to Parliament on 29 February 2024.

29.11.2023 | This autumn, the revised Labour Force Barometer focuses on the future prospects of the technology industry and the social welfare, health and wellbeing sectors. The greatest shortage of labour is in the health and social services sector, where skilled workers are needed for the care of older people, in particular. The outlook for the technology sector is expected to improve after next summer.

14.6.2024 | On 14 June 2024, the ministerial working group on employment and entrepreneurship adopted an action plan to help people who have fled Ukraine. In accordance with the Government Programme, the aim is to help Ukrainians enter the labour market and to support their participation in Finnish society.

22.2.2024 | On 22 February 2024, the Government made a decision on four employment areas. All future employment areas are now known.

17.4.2024 | As part of its adjustment measures outlined in the spending limits session of 15–16 April 2024, the Government has decided to terminate the funding of Työkanava Ltd and dissolve the company. The launch of Työkanava’s employment activities has not met the objectives set for the company.

16.11.2023 | The situation in Finland’s labour market is looking bleak. Many employees will be laid off, with the number of layoffs expected to rise to close to the highs experienced during the financial crisis of 2009. In particular, the economic trend in manufacturing and construction will be unfavourable and be reflected in the demand for services.

18.12.2024 | The comprehensive reform of the Integration Act (KOTO24) aims to speed up the integration and employment of immigrants and to strengthen their knowledge of Finnish society. The reform is related to the T24 reform where employment and economic development services are transferred from the central government to municipalities.

8.8.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of EUR 14.8 billion for the Ministry and its branch of government for 2026. This is about EUR 475 million less than in the 2025 Budget. The funding of wellbeing services counties is not included in the appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its branch of government. Instead, it falls under the main title of the Ministry of Finance.

25.2.2025 | Starting on 1 March 2025, the Development and Administrative Services Centre (KEHA Centre) will be responsible for the Employment Service Statistics. The statistics contain key data on unemployed jobseekers, job vacancies and public employment services. Until now, it has been the task of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment to maintain, develop and communicate about them.

18.12.2024 | The structures and responsibilities for organising employment services will be reformed at the turn of the year. As a result of the reform, the responsibility for organising employment and integration services will be transferred to municipalities and employment areas formed by municipalities. The role of the central government will focus on guidance, development and the nationwide functioning of the employment service system.

5.6.2025 | On 5 June 2025, the Government issued a decree on sectors with labour shortages in which the holders of residence permits for employed persons may seek work more flexibly. At the same time, the Government wants to facilitate the supply of labour in sectors suffering from labour shortages.

19.11.2024 | The expected recovery of the employment rate will be delayed by the labour market downturn in autumn 2024. Long-term unemployment is projected to increase until 2026.

10.9.2025 | VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 STATSRÅDET PB 23, 00023 Statsrådet vn.fi/sv Tfn 0295 16001 1(2) Employment package decided on in the government budget session Employment voucher for young people • The Government will...

30.4.2026 | FINNISH GOVERNMENT PO Box 23, FI-00023 Government, Finland vn.fi/en Tel. +358 295 16001 VALTIONEUVOSTO PL 23, 00023 Valtioneuvosto vn.fi p. 0295 16001 1(6) Measures to support economic growth, employment and households decided on in the government...

15.1.2026 | The changes to be made to social assistance will, for example, strengthen the obligations of recipients to apply for full-time work and primary benefits. The overall reform of social assistance aims to clarify the role of social assistance as a last-resort and temporary form of assistance, prevent social exclusion among young people and strengthen general government finances.

14.11.2025 | A turning point is expected in Finland’s labour market by the end of 2025. Growth in employment is projected to accelerate in 2027, and unemployment to begin falling more clearly.

5.1.2026 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health invites comments on the integration support. The comments should be submitted by 16 February 2026.

19.5.2026 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has submitted two applications to the European Commission to qualify for support from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). The support aims to help redundant workers find new jobs through learning of new skills and individual and locally targeted employment services.

11.5.2026 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is requesting comments on a proposal to create a new task for the employment authorities. The draft proposal will be circulated for comments from 11 May to 12 June 2026. It partly implements the entry of the Programme of Prime Minister Orpo’s Government concerning rehabilitative work. The aim is to launch activities for persons who have been unemplo...