What’s new in the Kainuu-Koillismaa employment area?
- News
On 1 January 2025, employment and business services were transferred from central government to employment areas formed by municipalities. The reform created 45 employment areas in Finland. In this news item, we describe how the reform has affected the Kainuu-Koillismaa employment area.
Picture: Milla Tikkanen and Kirsi Paavola
The operations of the Kainuu-Koillismaa employment area have started actively and efficiently. The job descriptions of the employees were already completed in the first weeks, and the customers were assigned to their own officials. The customers in the region have welcomed the reform. The centralised telephone service received some calls initially, but the situation calmed down quickly.
- For the most part, customers are already used to visiting the municipality to use services. We now meet more customers face-to-face, says Milla Tikkanen, Head of Employment and International Services at the City of Kajaani.
Most of the municipalities in the region participated in the local government pilot, which taught them a lot. Municipalities had a good attitude towards doing things, and this was also reflected in the results.
-We were able to pilot services before the actual reform. We are proud of last year’s achievements, says Tikkanen.
The reform has also introduced challenges and pressures to save money
The reform has not been completely problem-free. The funding model for central government transfers has introduced challenges and pressures for saving in municipalities. The general employment situation is also difficult.
- The pressure to save has focused on outsourced services and voluntary operations, such as third-sector grants, explains Tikkanen.
As a result of the reform, a large number of unprocessed payment applications were transferred to the area, along with only one payment expert. However, the service debt has already been brought to a good level.
- Our payment specialist introduced an efficient group of five people. Now the pay subsidies and start-up grants are being paid in real time, says Kirsi Paavola, Head of Employment Services at the City of Kajaani.
Job Market Finland and RekryAreena can help you find a job
Job Market Finland serves as a key service channel in the region, providing customers with information on jobs, training and coaching as well as current events.
- Our customers have given us positive feedback on the fact that they can use Job Market Finland independently of time and place and also on mobile devices, says Paavola.
- Job Market Finland should be developed in cooperation. For example, some customers find it difficult to log in to the website, Tikkanen adds.
The new RekryAreena service has been launched in the Kainuu-Koillismaa employment area in the footsteps of TE-live. The aim of RekryAreena is to help employers and experts to find each other in the region.
- RekryAreena enables us to offer municipalities and companies in our employment area more extensive services and varying content from live broadcasts to podcasts, says Aino Salmensalo, Communications Specialist at the City of Kajaani.
The RekryAreena website brings together content related to the themes of employment and education opportunities, entrepreneurship, living and work under one roof. You can also browse contents locally, which helps you familiarise yourself with the localities of Kainuu and Koillismaa and the opportunities they offer.
This interview is a part of the What’s new in the employment area? series. In the interviews, experts from different employment areas describe how the employment service reform has progressed in municipalities.