työllisyyspolitiikka

Työllisyyspolitiikka refers to government measures designed to reduce unemployment and improve the functioning of the labour market by shaping the demand for labour and the skills of the workforce. It typically encompasses macroeconomic stabilization, education and training systems, activation policies, and social protection linked to work.

Policy instruments are broadly divided into passive and active measures. Passive measures include unemployment benefits and other income support that maintain income during joblessness. Active measures are aimed at improving employability and job matching and include job-search assistance, training and upskilling, apprenticeships, wage subsidies or hiring incentives for employers, public employment programs, and entrepreneurship support.

Delivery and actors: Työllisyyspolitiikka is implemented by national and local government agencies, public employment services, education and training providers, and social partners such as employers’ associations and trade unions, often with private sector subcontractors. The design of programs emphasizes coordination across education, labor market services, and social protection, as well as regional tailoring to local labour market conditions.

Impact and evaluation: Common indicators include the unemployment rate, youth and long-term unemployment, job finding rates, labor force participation, and cost-effectiveness. Critiques focus on balancing activation with adequate income support, avoiding disincentives to work, and ensuring equitable access, especially for vulnerable groups.

Finland-specific context: In Finland, Työllisyyspolitiikka relies on activation of the unemployed, integration of training with work, and subsidies to employers to hire and train workers. Public employment services coordinate job matching and guidance, with policy aimed at regional disparities and adaptation to structural change from digitalization and automation.

History and debates: Nordic models generally combine generous social protection with strong activation. Debates focus on sustainability, efficiency, and targeting of measures.