The TE Services 2024 reform will transfer TE Services to municipalities beginning on 1 January 2025 (continuous updates)
From the beginning of 2025, the responsibility for organising TE services will be transferred from the central government to municipalities (Act on the Organisation of Employment Services (380/2023) and, at the same time, the state’s Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices) will be disbanded. With the reform, TE services will become part of the statutory tasks of municipalities and, consequently, part of the basic services of each municipality. This change is based on the objective included in the Government Programme in spring 2021 for strengthening the responsibility of municipalities in employment services.
The objective of the TE Services 2024 reform is a service structure that promotes rapid employment in the best possible way and increases the productivity, availability, effectiveness, and versatility of Finland’s employment and economic development services. As part of the reform, attention will be paid to the equal availability of services and the realisation of linguistic rights, as well as to safeguarding the services for those who are in a weaker position in the labour market. The purpose of the reform is to bring the TE services closer to their customer. When employment services, municipal education services and business services are under one organiser, the services can better support the goal of faster employment. Finland’s municipalities are well-equipped to provide customers with targeted services that meet the needs of their local labour markets.
How the reform will impact customers
The TE Office will cooperate with municipalities, the ELY Centre, the KEHA Centre, and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth transfer of its services. The reform will transfer most of the TE Offices’ personal, employer and corporate services and personnel to the municipalities. For customers, the change is mainly reflected in the change of the party responsible for the services and, to some extent, in possible changes in the contents of the services. As a rule, however, there will be no changes to statutory services and any related rights and obligations. The change will not require any action from customers, and they will not need to ensure the continuation of their services. TE Services will continue to operate as normal until 31 December 2024.
Four employment areas will be established in the Ostrobothnia TE Office area
Overall, a total of 45 new employment areas will be established in Finland. Four employment areas will be established in the Ostrobothnia TE Office area: the Employment Area of Ostrobothnia, the Employment Area of Central Ostrobothnia, the Employment Area of Jakobstad, and the Employment Area of Suupohja.
The Employment Area of Ostrobothnia consists of Kaskinen, Korsnäs, Laihia, Malax, Korsholm, Närpes, Nykarleby, Vaasa, and Vörå. The responsible municipality for the area is Vaasa. Find out more about Ostrobothnia Employment services (vaasa.fi).
The Employment Area of Central Ostrobothnia consists of Halsua, Kannus, Kaustinen, Kokkola, Lestijärvi, Perho, Toholampi, and Veteli. The responsible municipality is Kokkola. Find out more about The Employment Area of Central Ostrobothnia (in Finnish (kokkola.fi))
The Employment Area of Jakobstad consists of Kronoby, Larsmo, Jakobstad, and Pedersöre. The responsible municipality is Jakobstad. Information about employment services in the Jakobstad region can be found on the municipalities' websites.
Kristinestad is part of the Employment Area of Suupohja. The employment area will organise its employment services through the joint municipal authority model. Find out more about the Employment Area of Suupohja (suupohjatyollisyyspalvelut.fi)
Links
Read more:
- Questions and answers about the TE services reform 2024 (Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrbothnia)
- TE24 and KOTO24
More information: