Local government pilot on employment

• The new job search model will only apply to you after the next time we update your plan.
• Your personal career coach will contact you and explain during your meeting what the new model means for you.
• Until then, you can follow your existing plan and continue to seek work as usual.

• The principles, goals and services of the new job search model are effective immediately.
• Your personal career coach in the local government pilot will contact you within five days from when you registered as an unemployed jobseeker.
• The personal career coach appointed to you will introduce you to the elements of the new job search model, prepare an individual employment plan with you and support you in carrying out our tasks, if necessary.

The new model for labour market services in Finland entered into force on 2 May 2022

• The jobseeker will seek work independently.
• The jobseeker will receive more support, especially at the start of the unemployment.
• There will be regular and more frequent meetings with the personal career coach.
• The jobseeker must apply for a specific number of jobs (0–4) in a month to retain their right to receive unemployment allowances. The number depends on the jobseeker’s situation and ability to work, and will always be agreed on individually with the personal career coach.
• The rules on waiting periods will be less strict.
• The first omission or neglect is followed by a reminder, which does not affect your unemployment benefit.
• The personal career coach will contact the jobseeker when it is time to move to the new model. The change will not require any action on the jobseeker’s part before that.

• The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has compiled questions and answers on the Nordic labour market service model.

The first three months of a job search are key. During this time, we will be in frequent contact with the jobseeker.

• We will call the jobseeker within five days of the date when they registered as an unemployed jobseeker.
• We will meet with the jobseeker face-to-face a week from the call. There will be a total of seven meetings, which averages a meeting every other week. Some of the meetings will be arranged face-to-face, others by phone, and others online. 
• We will chart the jobseeker’s situation, goals and service needs.
• We will advise you on applying for unemployment allowances.
• We will inform the jobseeker of their rights and responsibilities.
• We will direct the jobseeker to support services as needed.
• We will prepare an employment, activation or integration plan.
• We will appoint a personal career coach for the jobseeker. This coach will be in charge of the jobseeker’s case.

The aim of the first three months is to find employment.

In the new job search model, the jobseeker is obliged to seek work. This means that the jobseeker must apply for a specific number of jobs in a month to retain their right to receive unemployment allowances. The job search obligation will be agreed on with the personal career coach.

• As a rule, jobseekers should apply for four jobs per month.
• In some cases, this requirement may be lower, or the jobseeker may not be obliged to apply for any jobs. I.e. the job search obligation depends on the jobseeker’s situation and ability to work.
• The jobseeker can decide which jobs to apply for.
• The job search obligation will be recorded in the plan. The plan will be revised every three months.
• Jobseekers have the right to receive unemployment allowances as long as they are applying for the number of jobs agreed on each month and following their plan.

In the new job search model, the waiting periods are less strict than before. We will introduce reminders as a new feature.

• If you neglect your job search or you do not follow the plan, you will receive a reminder..
• The reminder does not affect the unemployment allowances.
• The reminder aims to point out that a jobseeker has responsibilities that must be fulfilled.

• If you continue to neglect your job search after receiving the reminder, you may need to undergo a waiting period. The waiting period refers to the period during which a jobseeker is not entitled to the unemployment allowance.
• The waiting period can be 5 or 10 days long.
• If you continuously neglect your job search, you may lose your unemployment allowance until further notice.
• If you refuse a job you are certain to get, you may become subject to a waiting period of 45 days.

In May 2022, the service channels for job search also underwent some changes. The Job Market will replace the national website of the TE services.  Via the Job Market, you can:

• look for suitable jobs
• create a profile to receive suggestions of suitable jobs.

The link to the e-services will remain the same.