Employment Services to Be Reformed on January 1, 2025 – Apply for Unemployment Benefits as Usual

A significant change in employment authority services will take place on January 1, 2025, as TE Offices are abolished and responsibility for employment services transitions to municipalities and employment regions. From now on, matters related to job seeking will be handled with the municipality or employment region. The change may cause delays in services around the turn of the year. However, unemployment benefits will continue to be applied for as before.

Register as a jobseeker in good time

To receive unemployment benefits, you must register as a jobseeker and keep your job search active according to the instructions provided by the employment authorities. Unemployment benefits can only be paid for periods during which the employment authority has issued a positive labor policy statement.

Jobseeker registration will still primarily take place through the Job Market Finland’s e-Service. Due to the reform, the e-service will be unavailable from December 30, 2024, to January 2, 2025. If you become unemployed at the turn of the year, it is advisable to register as a jobseeker well before the service interruption. Also, ensure that you renew your job search, if necessary, before the interruption. Be prepared for potential congestion in employment authority services and the processing of statements at the turn of the year.

If you are already unemployed or laid off and your job search remains active through the turn of the year, the reform does not require any action from you. You can continue implementing your job search plan as usual.

No changes to unemployment fund services

The reform of employment services does not affect unemployment fund services. Unemployment benefits will continue to be applied for through your unemployment fund. You can submit your application electronically via the WebKassa service, accessible through the upper-right corner of your unemployment fund’s website.

Further information

Read more about the reform of employment services in the employment authority’s announcement and on the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s website https://toimistot.te-palvelut.fi/paikalliset-palvelut and https://tem.fi/en/employment-areas .

Information about employment services in your area can be found on the Job Market Finland’s regional pages https://tyomarkkinatori.fi/en/regional-pages

Learn more about applying for unemployment benefits in your unemployment fund’s news updates https://www.tehytk.fi/en/news/how-apply-daily-allowance-and-what-documents-you-need-attach