Unemployment benefit appropriations targeted to integration and structural changes

In the second supplementary budget for 2016 the unemployment benefit appropriations are targeted to education and training for immigrants to support their integration and managing structural changes in the ICT sector. The supplementary appropriation totals EUR 13.1 million. The Government decided on the allocation of funds to the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment on 18 August 2016.

Of the supplementary appropriation EUR 10 million is to be used for facilitating the access of asylum seekers with residence permits to education and training for integration purposes. Education has been reformed to include vocational studies at an earlier stage. The knowledge and skills of immigrants are better taken into account in the design of education and training. The content of education and training has also been diversified to speed up employment and access to further studies.

EUR 3.1 million is to be allocated to deal with the lay-offs at universities and Microsoft, for which funding has also been applied for from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). EGF funding will be available in the regions of Uusimaa, Southwest Finland and Pirkanmaa. It is used to offer further and entrepreneurship education to people who have been laid off and to support them in the search for employment. 

Appropriations allocated to individual Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment

Uusimaa                        5 110 000
Southwest Finland        1 800 000
Satakunta                      600 000
Häme                            1 000 000
Pirkanmaa                     500 000
Southeast Finland         1 000 000
South Savo                   100 000
North Savo                    540 000
North Karelia                 300 000
South Ostrobothnia       550 000
North Ostrobothnia       1 200 000
Lapland                         400 000
Total                             13 100 000

The appropriation was divided between the Centres on the basis of their supplementary appropriation requests.

Inquiries, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment:
Raija Saastamoinen, Labour Market Counsellor, tel. +358 29 504 8942
Tuija Oivo, Director General, tel. +358 29 504 9040
Sonja Hämäläinen, Migration Director, tel. +358 29 504 7112
Teija Felt, Labour Market Counsellor, tel. +358 29 504 9080