The Rovaniemi region’s labour market changes with the seasons
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The labour market in the Rovaseutu employment area in the Rovaniemi and Ranua region is characterised by several features, such as its seasonal nature, a high share of small enterprises, and internationality. The region's employer services are being developed in close cooperation with businesses, with the aim of providing easily accessible services that support employers.
A local labour market driven by seasonal variations, small businesses, and internationality
The labour market in Northern Finland is characterised by seasonal labour demands. During the winter season, the number of jobseekers increases, especially in construction and industry. As the summer season begins, the need for labour in these sectors increases dramatically, while those employed in the tourism sector must make do with less or no hours over the summer. For many companies, profitability in quieter seasons remains a key challenge.
The Rovaseutu employment area is home to a particularly large number of small companies and sole traders. For example, in the construction sector, sole traders and small workshops account for a significant share of local companies in the region. The region also features a great number of beauty care, cleaning, property services, and transport companies.
In addition, the labour market is characterised by its international nature – the region has many international employees and entrepreneurs, and a significant share of new entrepreneurs come from abroad.
Employment situation remains good at the national level
The employment situation in the Rovaseutu employment area is relatively good when compared to the national level. However, the region is experiencing labour shortages especially in early childhood education and care, civil engineering, and certain parts of the construction and transport sector. The tourism and catering sector needs more chefs, and there is also demand for cleaning workers and specialist physicians.
However, the employment situation is not equally good in all sectors. For example, there is an oversupply of general secretaries in the region. In addition, the number of unemployed jobseekers in the social welfare and health care sector has recently increased, marking a change from the previous situation.
Employer services invest in cooperation and low-threshold support
The new employment regions began operating at the start of last year. The initial period focused on launching the necessary service packages and new tasks, and the municipality's new business and employer services were not yet widely known in the region. The Rovaseutu employment area has focused on the development and refinement of employer services in close cooperation with the region’s businesses. Visits at businesses, regular contacts, and easily accessible services have strengthened the cooperation with employers, and the services have received mainly positive feedback. An increasing number of employers have also opted for the applicant nomination system instead of open job advertisements when searching for new employees.
Employers are offered support in various tasks, such as planning recruitments, preparing job advertisements, and finding suitable employees. New entrepreneurs are also provided advice in cooperation with Business Rovaniemi and Business Ranua. In addition, employers often need help in utilising pay subsidies, work try-outs, and hiring their first employees.
Last spring, the City of Rovaniemi conducted a business survey among companies in the region to assess the visibility of its business services and user satisfaction. A similar survey will be carried out again this summer to further develop the related services and activities. The objective of the Rovaseutu employment area is to develop easily accessible and customer-oriented services for both employers and jobseekers.
The Rovaseutu area also tested an expert-alliance model that brought together vitality services, educational institutions, employers, and jobseekers to consider the challenges and opportunities related to the availability of skilled labour. The experiment ended in spring, and on the basis of its success, this cooperative effort will be cemented into a permanent structure to develop a common operating model.
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Image: City of Rovaniemi / Adam Eronen Piper