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15.6.2026 | At the initiative of Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has launched preparations for a national women’s health strategy. The aim of the strategy is to gather information on women’s health and identify solutions that can promote women’s health, wellbeing and ability to work.

21.5.2025 | The employment rate of registered nurses and practical nurses is high, with more than 90 per cent of graduates finding work in the social welfare and health care sector. Unemployed nurses cannot be relied on to respond to the future labour shortage in the sector. People who have sought employment in other sectors represent the most significant resource of unutilised workforce. Some relief can also be provided by pensioners for whom working is increasingly common.

22.9.2025 | The Finnish Government proposes EUR 14.8 billion in appropriations for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and its branch of government for 2026. This is about EUR 0.5 billion less than in the 2025 Budget.

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.

15.11.2022 | Supporting mental health at work requires that both workplaces and occupational healthcare update their cooperation practices and are willing to learn together. As a result of the Mental Health at Work Programme, a model has now been published where mental wellbeing is promoted through cooperation between workplaces and occupational healthcare by strengthening the resources of work communities.

1.11.2022 | This autumn’s Occupational Barometer indicates that the increase in labour shortages has levelled off. At the national level, the Occupational Barometer nevertheless identified 56 shortage occupations out of 200 key occupations.

15.4.2021 | Instructions have now been created for the construction industry for assessing the risk of COVID-19 infections. According to the instructions, the main contractor of the construction site is responsible for having a general risk assessment made. Everyone working at the construction site must comply with the assessment-based measures. In addition, other employers involved in the construction site assess the risks of their operations.

16.12.2021 | Municipalities must in future determine whether occupational healthcare service providers that operate in their areas can participate in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, if this is necessary to ensure the provision of vaccinations without delays. On Thursday 16 December, the Government decided to amend section 1 of the Government Decree on Voluntary COVID-19 Vaccinations.

7.1.2022 | The amount of reimbursement will be raised from the current EUR 10 to EUR 16. The temporary provision will enter into force on 10 January 2022 and it will remain in force until 30 June 2022.

28.8.2023 | The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health proposes appropriations of about EUR 16.15 billion for the Ministry and its administrative branch for 2024. This is about EUR 0.4 billion more than in the 2023 Budget. The increase is mainly due to changes in the needs assessment.

30.3.2023 | The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has commissioned two studies to support future decisions and measures to promote international recruitment in the healthcare and social welfare sector. The reports survey the experiences on international recruitment among healthcare and social welfare sector employers and those who have moved to Finland to work or study in the sector. The conclusion is that employees hired from abroad will be needed in great numbers in the next few years.

27.1.2021 | In its meeting on 27 January, the Government decided on health insurance coverage for COVID-19 vaccines provided by private occupational healthcare. The Government also discussed the safe entry of seasonal workers and received a briefing on the pandemic-related legislation and government proposals currently in preparation.

22.12.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare have updated two recommendations related to the prevention of the COVID-19 epidemic. One of the recommendations applies to providers of early childhood education and care and school education, and the second to providers of general upper secondary education and vocational education and training, liberal adult education, basic education for adults, universities of applied sciences and universities.

26.5.2021 | The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland defines how Finland will use funding from Next Generation EU, the EU’s recovery instrument. The programme will accelerate, for example, digitalisation and investment in the green transition. In addition, the programme will promote raising the employment rate and speeding up access to care. A key objective of the programme is also to support regional, social and gender equality.

5.8.2021 | The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) have updated their recommendations on how to organise early childhood education and care, primary and lower secondary education, upper secondary education and higher education. The autumn term will start with the same health security practices as before: good hygiene and ventilation will be ensured; unnecess...

30.4.2021 | Minister of Social Affairs and Health Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru and Minister for Nordic Cooperation and Equality Thomas Blomqvist say that the Government’s decisions at its mid-term policy review session will reinforce health and social services, improve access to care, safeguard the financing and activities of third-sector operators, promote the employment of people with partial work ability, and prevent disability pensions and sick leaves.

4.3.2026 | Finland’s new national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity shows that the work to halt biodiversity loss is heading in the right direction. Progress has been made in almost all sectors, but measures need to be upscaled in the protection, restoration and management of nature. Besides this, actions that cause biodiversity loss must be avoided or mitigated. Awareness of the importa...

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.

5.7.2023 | Laura Rissanen is to serve as State Secretary to Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen. The minister has invited Sakari Rokkanen and Niilo Heinonen to serve as special assistants.

13.4.2023 | The new act will lay down provisions on the organisation of the activities of patient ombudspersons and social services ombudspersons and their independence, qualifications and duties. It will also include provisions on the processing of personal data.