I am going to be unemployed

If you are going to be unemployed or laid-off, register as a job seeker no later than your first day of unemployment.  

Register as a job seeker

• Through the Job Market Finland's E-services. You can authenticate yourself in the E-services using online banking credentials, a mobile certificate, or a chipped ID card.
• Using a paper form if you cannot authenticate yourself in the E-services with online banking credentials, a mobile certificate, or a chipped ID card, or if you are not a citizen of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland.

In the E-services, you can handle also many other things. For example, you can:

• Respond to a clarification request
• Mark tasks as completed
• Report that you have fulfilled your job search obligations
• Notify of changes in your contact information
• Notify of changes, such as getting a job or starting studies
• Send a contact request to your Employment Service Specialist
• Send a message to your Employment Service Specialist
• End your job search

When you have registered as a job seeker, follow the progress of your case in the E-services. You may be asked for additional information. You will also receive a statement regarding your eligibility for unemployment benefit. If you are asked to deliver attachments, you can send confidential information to [email protected] by using Turvaposti. Your message will be encrypted. To be able to use turvaposti, you need to register your email address to the service first. Follow instructions you get by using the link of turvaposti. Service is provided in Finnish.

Unemployment benefits are conditional, meaning that in addition to rights, you also have obligations. 

Jobseeker's rights

• If you meet the eligibility criteria for unemployment security, you are entitled to unemployment benefits from Kela or your unemployment fund.
• Employment services provide support in job seeking, dealing with public authorities, and developing your skills to improve your employment. You may also receive assistance if you wish to start studying or change your career path.
• You have access to free services that promote your employment.

Jobseeker's responsibilities

• As a job seeker, you have a job search obligation, which means you must apply for jobs every month. This obligation is defined individually in your employment plan. As a general rule, you must apply for four job opportunities per month.
• Employment services may offer you job opportunities that suit your profile. If you receive a job offer and have been unemployed for at least six months, you must apply for the offered job –unless you have already fulfilled your monthly job search obligation.
• You will have meetings with Employment Service Specialist and, if needed, other experts based on your individual needs.

How to fulfill Your Job Search Obligation

You can meet your job search obligation in various ways:

• Apply for jobs that last at least two weeks and for which you are qualified.
• Apply for a job offered by your Employment Service Specialist.
• If you work part-time, ask your employer for more working hours.
• Register as a job seeker with recruitment agencies.
• Apply for jobs through recruitment agencies.
• Create and publish a job seeker profile on platforms like Työmarkkinatori or LinkedIn.
• Create a portfolio of your work samples and publish it online.
• Participate in recruitment events and submit your CV to recruiters.
• Apply for grants intended to support employment.
• If you are self-employed, a part-time entrepreneur, or starting a business, you can fulfill your job search obligation by seeking entrepreneurial work opportunities.

When you have registered as an unemployed job seeker, you can then apply for unemployment benefit from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) or your unemployment fund. 

Note: In order to receive unemployment benefit, you must have been registered as an unemployed job seeker.

You can only receive one type of unemployment benefit at a time.

Labour market subsidy:

• Applied for from Kela
• You can receive labour market subsidy if you do not meet the work requirement
• You can also receive labour market subsidy if you have received basic unemployment allowance or earnings-related unemployment allowance for the maximum period of time

Basic unemployment allowance:

• Applied for from Kela
• You can be paid basic unemployment allowance if you meet the work requirement
• Can only be paid if you are not a member of an unemployment fund or if you have been a member for less than 12 months.
• The amount of the benefit is the same for everyone, regardless of the salary

Earnings-related unemployment allowance:

• Applied for from the unemployment fund
• You receive earnings-related allowance if you have been a member of the unemployment fund for at least 12 months and you meet the work requirement during your membership
• The benefit is determined based on your salary

To receive unemployment benefit, you must apply for and be able to accept full-time work. This also applies to those who are laid off.

If you have any questions about unemployment benefit or need help applying for that, please, contact Kela or your unemployment fund.

Once you have registered as an unemployed job seeker, you will be contacted by the Employment and Growth Services. Consider your next career goal in advance and determine the type of support you will need.

Your Employment Service Specialist:

• Assesses your situation, goals, and service needs
• Plans a path back to employment with you, tailored to your goals and needs
• Assists you in job search. The Employment Service Specialist is familiar with the local job market and its needs
• Advises you on official matters related to unemployment
• Monitors your progress

You must attend the meetings agreed upon with Employment Service Specialist and complete the tasks you have agreed on together. If you have a scheduled meeting but cannot attend, inform about that as soon as possible. Contact customer service of Employment and Growth Services to reschedule the meeting.

At the first meeting with your Employment Service Specialist, you will create an employment plan, which will document your job search goals and the tasks that will help you achieve them. The plan will also specify how many job opportunities you need to apply for each month. Remember to approve the plan by the deadline in the Job Market Finland's E-services.

You must report the jobs you have applied for monthly. It is important to report the fulfillment of your job search obligation in the E-services by the agreed date.

If you have been unemployed for a long time and your primary goal is to improve your life management skills and your chances of getting a job, an activation plan or a multidisciplinary employment plan will be created with you.

By following the instructions and deadlines given to you and responding to contact requests, you ensure that there are no interruptions to your unemployment benefits.

There are many different aspects to consider when you start applying for jobs.

How do you showcase your skills? How do you convince a potential employer? 

A good start to applying for a new job is to update your resume and familiarize yourself with what makes a good job application.