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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.

6.10.2022 | The Government proposes to transfer the services of Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices) to municipalities on 1 January 2025. This historical reform aims to create a service structure that will contribute to rapid employment of jobseekers and increase the productivity, availability, effectiveness and diversity of employment and business services.

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.

2.6.2021 | 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.

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.

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. 

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.

22.6.2022 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has appointed an advisory board for Työkanava Oy, which may issue recommendations on how the company’s operations can be carried out in a market-based manner while maintaining competition neutrality.

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.

5.8.2022 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of about EUR 15.8 billion for the Ministry and its administrative branch for 2023. This is about EUR 0.2 billion less than in the 2022 Budget. The decrease is mainly due to the end of the Government Programme projects and changes in the needs assessment.

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.     

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.

5.8.2022 | Appropriations of around EUR 3.78 billion are proposed for the administrative branch of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment for 2023, which is EUR 236 million more than in the 2022 budget. In connection with the implementation of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, a total of EUR 346.13 million in appropriations and EUR 101.5 million in budget authority will be allocated to the administrative branch of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

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.

24.3.2021 | The employment service pilots (TE pilots) launched by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment during spring 2021 are part of the Government’s working capacity programme, which aims to improve access to and conditions of employment for persons with partial work ability or disabilities, and to coordinate services better. 

22.10.2021 | With the easing of the coronavirus crisis and lifting of restrictions, the economies and employment in the regions are experiencing strong growth. Near-term expectations are positive across the country and demand for labour is high. However, the outlook in all regions is dampened by concerns over the availability of skilled labour.

7.10.2021 | The reform would give unemployed jobseekers quicker and more intensive support for their job search. The Government submitted a proposal on the Nordic labour market service model to Parliament on 7 October 2021. The changes are intended to take effect in May 2022.

27.1.2021 | In 2019, Finland’s economy was in the later stages of a cyclical upturn and demand for labour remained strong, with the number of those employed increasing by 26,000. However, this change in the level of employment was accompanied by a significantly larger increase in search for labour by employers and the creation of new jobs. In all, employers were looking for more than 764,000 employees. At 65,000, the workforce shortage, i.e.

5.4.2022 | The number of occupations suffering from labour shortage has risen to the pre-COVID level and the occupations in the social welfare and healthcare sector are still at the top of the list. New shortage occupations are occupations in the restaurant and construction sectors. The number of surplus occupations has declined only slightly.

8.9.2021 | The Social Security Committee met on Monday 6 September to continue processing its position statements. The Committee also outlined several social security reforms for more rapid implementation. The Committee also discussed social security expenditure and financing, demographic trends, continuous learning, and income support reform.