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16.5.2025 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on the comprehensive reform of the Social Assistance Act by 27 June 2025. The amendments to the Act would strengthen, for example, the obligations of recipients to apply for primary benefits and full-time work. The aim is to reinforce the role of social assistance as a last-resort and temporary form of assistance and to strengthen general government finances.

15.5.2024 | According to this spring’s short-term labour market forecast, unemployment growth is about to peak. Long-term unemployment is projected to increase throughout the year.

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.

23.9.2024 | The two memorandums published on 23 September 2024 assess the combined impacts of the changes to income security that the Government is preparing or implementing for the years 2024–2025.

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.

11.4.2023 | In order to thwart the risk of prolonged unemployment, it is important that people who have been unemployed for longer than a year find work quickly. Long-term unemployment is often related to a diagnosis of an illness and lack of education. Education plays a minor role in the employment plans of the long-term unemployed.

4.9.2024 | An experiment based on a new type of agreement model had a positive long-term impact on the employment, confirmed income and the amount of taxes paid by immigrants participating in the experiment. According to the interviews conducted in connection with a recent evaluation, the close contacts between employers and employment-promoting services were particularly useful.

11.5.2023 | The lacklustre state of the economy will be reflected in the labour market over the next few months. As recently as in early 2023, the labour market showed a positive trend and employment grew due to part-time work. During the latter part of the year, however, employment will start to fall before returning to a positive track in 2024. These are the conclusions of the short-term Labour Market Forecast published by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 11 May 2023.

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.

15.2.2024 | On 15 February 2024, the Government submitted a proposal to transpose the amendments required by the EU Blue Card Directive into Finnish legislation. The amendments will apply to non-EU nationals arriving in Finland with a EU residence permit for highly qualified workers, also known as the Blue Card.

9.11.2022 | Even though the outlook for the labour market is in many respects gloomier than before, the number of employed persons will continue to grow slightly, according to the Labour Market Forecast extending to 2024. The number of unemployed jobseekers in employment services (TE services) will see a moderate increase as well.

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.

11.10.2023 | On 9 October 2023, the Government submitted its budget proposal for 2024 to Parliament. Parliament held a referral debate on the appropriations proposed for the administrative branch of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 11 October 2023.

9.11.2021 | According to estimates, 55,000 more people will be employed this year than before and employment will grow by another 22,000 people in 2022. The employment rate is expected to rise to 73.8% in 2023.

1.4.2022 | The Government wants to simplify the rules on pay subsidy and thereby increase the use of pay subsidy, especially by companies. The increase in the use of pay subsidy aims to promote the employment of people in a vulnerable labour market position and to raise the employment rate.

4.9.2023 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health requests comments on a draft bill that aims to simplify the unemployment security system and increase employment. The proposed amendments would concern the prior work requirement for employees to be entitled to unemployment benefits, the adjusted unemployment benefit, the starting date of the right to receive unemployment benefits, and the child increments to unemployment benefits.

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.

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.

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.

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.