Legislative amendments affecting employment services in 2026

Picture: City of Vaasa, photographer: Jenna Koivisto

The legislative amendments will be introduced gradually over the course of the year. Legislation concerning the job seeker’s service process and employment services will largely come into effect on 1 January 2026. Changes affecting unemployment security sanctions will take effect on 1 March 2026, and obligations related to the service platform (Job Market Finland) and job applicant profiles will enter into force on 1 September 2026.

See the schedule of legislative amendments below, along with the specific changes taking effect at each date. We will update and add information to this page, so please check back for the latest information. Last updated on 5 February 2026.

Schedule and details of the legislative amendments

Changes that will enter into force on 1 January 2026

Legislation on the job seeker’s service process and employment services is reformed (TYKE). The reform aims to create a more flexible service process, a more precise employment plan, stricter obligations to apply for work for those in part-time work, and more binding job referrals. The obligation for young people to apply for education will also change.

The TYKE reforms will largely enter into force on 1 January 2026. Changes affecting unemployment security sanctions will take effect on 1 March 2026, and obligations related to the service platform (Job Market Finland) and job applicant profiles will enter into force on 1 September 2026.

Changes that will enter into force on 1 January 2026:

• Arranging the initial interview:
  • The initial interview must be arranged within 10 working days of the start of the job seeker’s job search.
  • The initial interview can take place at the employment authority’s service point unless there is a compelling reason to arrange it otherwise.
• Supplementary job search discussions:
  • In addition to the initial interview and job search discussions, the employment authority must provide the job seeker with supplementary job search discussions to ensure they receive the support needed for their job search and to improve their prospects of employment.
  • The employment authority must hold five supplementary job search discussions between the initial interview and the first scheduled job search discussion unless the job seeker’s service needs suggest otherwise.
  • If necessary, the employment authority must also arrange a supplementary job search discussion for reviewing or preparing the employment plan, or for determining the obligation to apply for work, ensuring that the job seeker has a valid and up-to-date employment plan.
  • The employment authority must also arrange a supplementary job search discussion at the job seeker’s request unless it is clearly unnecessary.
• Changes to fulfilling the obligation to apply for work:
  • Job seekers can no longer fulfil their obligation to apply for work simply by publishing a job applicant profile or applying for a position assigned to them by the employment authority.
• Reducing the obligation to apply for work during the review period:
  • In the future, the obligation to apply for work will be reduced gradually. Gradual reduction means, for example, lowering the number of jobs a job seeker is required to apply for from four to three, then from three to two, and so on. The obligation to apply for work can only be reduced if meeting the full requirements is genuinely impossible.
  • Job search periods can no longer be combined.
• Obligation to apply for work for part-time employees:
  • In the future, part-time employees will generally be required to apply for four job opportunities each month.
• Exemption from the obligation to apply for work:
  • The employment authority may fully exempt a part-time job seeker from the obligation to apply for work if their overall circumstances warrant it. This applies to situations where a job seeker is unable, due to illness or injury, to work full-time or to hold multiple part-time jobs at the same time.
• Jobs assigned to the job seeker by the employment authority:
  • A job seeker applying for unemployment benefits must apply for the jobs assigned to them by the employment authority.
  • In the future, these job referrals will be binding right from the start of unemployment.
• Obligation for young people to apply for education:
  • In the future, this obligation can also be met by applying for preparatory education for working life and independent living, training organised through joint procurement with an employer or similar labour market training, or other equivalent education or training (this must be specifically agreed in the employment plan). The primary option remains to apply for education leading to a qualification that provides vocational skills.
• Full-time study:
  • Previously, studies were considered full-time if they aimed at completing a postgraduate degree at a university and had an average workload of at least five credits per month of study, according to the study plan. In the future, all modules completed as part of the same study programme will be considered, whether or not they appear in the study plan. This applies especially to the workload required for doctoral research.

Changes that will enter into force on 1 February 2026

The reform of the Social Assistance Act (GP 116/2025) clarifies that social assistance is intended as the last resort for financial support. In the future, there will be greater emphasis on the client’s obligation to apply for primary benefits, such as unemployment benefits, housing allowance, financial aid for students, and disability benefits, before applying for social assistance.

• The changes to the Social Assistance Act will come into effect on 1 February 2026.
• Starting in February, those applying for social assistance must:
  • register as unemployed job seekers.
  • keep their job search status active.

Read more about the changes on Kela’s website: Changes to social assistance: new requirements and stricter criteria as of February (kela.fi)

Changes that will enter into force on 1 March 2026

Unemployment security obligations will become stricter from 1 March 2026 (TYKE proposal). The legislative amendments tighten compliance with deadlines and remove the written reminder procedure. The first failure to participate in the services will lead to a seven-day suspension of benefits. Job search is terminated after the first failure to participate in the services.

Starting in March, Job Market Finland will automatically send text message reminders one day before deadlines, but the responsibility for meeting deadlines remains with the job seeker.

Changes that enter into force on 1 March 2026:

• Changes to the phasing of unemployment security sanctions.
• Termination of job search due to negligence:
  • Job search is terminated, for instance, if a job seeker fails to participate in the services provided by the employment authority by the specified deadline and in the required manner.
  • Job search is terminated immediately after the first instance of negligence.
    • The first failure to participate in the services or to comply with any obligation under the Unemployment Security Act results is a seven-day suspension of benefits (a so-called waiting period).
    • A second (or subsequent) instance of negligence within a one-year period leads to a six-week obligation to work.
• Implementation of text message reminders is underway.

Changes that will enter into force on 1 May 2026

• Labour market subsidy and the basic unemployment allowance will be replaced by a new form of assistance called the general social security benefit.
  • The labour market policy requirements for receiving the general social security benefit remain unchanged.
  • Changes to the service process for long-term recipients of the general social security benefit.

Changes that will enter into force on 1 September 2026

• Publishing a job applicant profile on Job Market Finland will generally become mandatory.
  • A job seeker must publish a job applicant profile and keep it active on Job Market Finland.
  • Alternatively, the employment authority will publish the profile.

Learn more about the job applicant profile on Job Market Finland.

Further information:

• There will be changes to the job seeker's service process and employment services at the turn of the year (tyomarkkinatori.fi)
• Development of job seeker’s service process and employment services(tem.fi)
• National text message reminders to be introduced on 1 March – sent by TyömarkTori
• Changes to unemployment security sanctions