What’s new in the Salo 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 Salo employment area.
Picture: Minna Virta and Salla Seppälä
The operation of the Salo employment area got off to a flying start at the beginning of the year. Despite some technical challenges at the start, Employment Manager Minna Virta says that employees and customer service were able to hit the ground running.
- Overall, the new employment area’s operations have had a relatively smooth start, Virta says.
Before the reform, Salo participated in a local government pilot, and the experience gained from this played a significant part in preparing for the TE reform. Operational models developed during the pilot have proved useful.
- The pilot provided valuable lessons, experience and certainty about which types of service are effective, Virta adds.
Special Planning Officer Salla Seppälä says that experience gained from the local government pilot helped prepare for the changes.
- The experience gained from the municipal experiment was very useful. We were aware of the risks associated with the change and could prepare for them, Seppälä says.
Improved local services are a welcome change
Customers in the Salo employment area have mostly welcomed the change. The improved availability of local services has been a welcome change. The reform has also brought challenges, particularly economic ones. According to Virta, the central government transfer is not enough to cover all costs. In addition, the worsening employment situation and the prolongation of unemployment periods are challenging customer service.
- Our personnel are motivated and competent, and agreeing on work assignments went smoothly at the beginning of the year. Everyone is already hard at work, Virta says.
Employment Specialist Mika Harju sees a lot of good sides to reform, particularly from the perspective of local activities and service provision. The small size of the area provides a good opportunity to be present.
- We are returning to genuinely local operations and service provision, Harju says.
Seppälä says that technical and administrative challenges are still a common occurrence in the employment area.
- Thankfully, all personnel have been patient with the ambiguities brought by the change, Seppälä adds.
Job Market Finland’s regional pages are an important information channel
Job Market Finland’s regional pages have been an important information channel in the Salo employment area for both job seekers and employers. In Harju's opinion, it is particularly important that everyone can find their own employment area on the website.
- Job Market Finland’s regional pages are an essential part of this reform, Harju says.
The personnel of the Salo employment area want to encourage and wish good luck to all the new employment areas and stress the importance of collaboration between regions.
- We are happy to participate in collaboration between regions, which is also important for the co-creation of employment services and customer service, Virta concludes.