The annual plan forms part of the city’s strategic management system, and progress towards its implementation is usually reported on three times a year. As the 2026 annual plans were, exceptionally, not approved until February due to the strategy’s drafting schedule, this is the first time this year that progress on measures and risk management is being reported.
According to the interim report, the measures in the annual plan have progressed very well during the reporting period. The development of the partnership model for promoting employment and of job placement services that meet the labour and skills needs of the labour market is proceeding as planned. Growth and competitiveness in key sectors of expertise are also being enhanced.
The operating surplus for the Tampere Region Employment Area during the review period was €7.1 million, which is €7.7 million better than the annual plan. This result is mainly due to lower-than-planned expenditure: the procurement of services is concentrated towards the end of the year, recruitment is still ongoing, and fewer subsidies and grants have been paid out than planned.
According to the financial forecast, the financial year will end with a break-even result in line with the annual plan. Expenditure is expected to be lower than planned, particularly in respect of wage subsidies and youth recruitment support: wage subsidies are forecast to be €3.2 million below budget and youth recruitment support €2.1 million below budget. The government grant allocated for youth recruitment support will be utilised also in 2027. It is estimated that approximately 2 million euros of the costs of the Nuorten NOSTE neighbourhood pilot for young people will be covered by a government grant, for which applications have recently opened. The pilot aims to improve young people’s access to work, education and services that support their wellbeing, as well as to strengthen regional cross-sectoral cooperation.
The municipalities’ contributions are €7.1 million lower than planned in the final accounts forecast, and these will be adjusted at the turn of the year to reflect actual costs.
– The interim report shows that the Tampere Employment Area’s operations and finances are on a solid footing. What matters most is ensuring that every euro is used effectively, to support job matching, meet employers’ skills needs, and help young people and the long-term unemployed enter the labour market, says Director of Employment and Growth Regina Saari.
The most significant risks in the employment sector relate, amongst other things, to the general weak economic situation and rising unemployment, which increase expenditure on unemployment benefits and the risk of social exclusion. These risks are addressed through close cooperation with businesses, the third sector and education providers, and by increasing the availability and retention of the international workforce. A functioning labour market, cooperation with the wellbeing services county and well-targeted, multi-sectoral services help to prevent social exclusion. Employment and Growth Services cannot influence economic cycles, but effective and cost-efficient job placement promotes employment in all economic conditions.
