I wish to enhance my skills and think about my career path

Labour market training strengthens your professional skills. If you are unemployed or at risk of unemployment, you can access labour market training. 

Labour market training is mostly vocational education, such as training leading to a basic or professional qualification, or additional vocational training. 

Labour market training is free of charge, and during it, you receive the same benefits as when unemployed and possibly also a cost allowance.

Ask your employment service specialist about applying for labour market training.

Career coaching is practical and functional. It provides you with information, advice, guidance and support to clarify your career choices and options. You will learn how to apply for education and develop your working life skills. Career coaching often includes visits to educational institutions and workplaces. It may also include various short-term work-related permit and certification trainings.

You can ask for more information about upcoming career coaching sessions from your employment service specialist. During the coaching, you will create a feasible career plan for yourself.

Vocational and career guidance helps in considering and clarifying education and career options at different stages of life.

Together with a psychologist you can confidentially talk about your life situation, personality traits, your expectations related to working life, your interests and your previous experiences in education and work.

In addition to discussions, the guidance can include psychological tests, education or work try-outs, and interim tasks. The service is free of charge. 

If you got interested, talk to your employment service specialist or leave a contact request through Job Market Finland's E-services. Vocational and career guidance is currently available once the client has registered as a job seeker.

As an unemployed job seeker, you may be eligible to receive unemployment benefit for full-time studies. You can only start studying after Employment and Growth Services has assessed the impact of the planned studies on your employment prospects. Your studies can be supported with unemployment benefit only if the planned studies are estimated to significantly improve your employment opportunities.

Independent studies can also be applied to recruitment trainings, where employees are searched for and trained in collaboration with companies and/or employment service companies. You will also be invited to job search discussions during your independent studies, where your employment plan will be updated, and your job search obligation will be agreed upon. 

During independent studies you

• participate in teaching
• report the progress of your studies as agreed
• notify if your studies are not progressing according to plan, you interrupt or stop your studies or you go to a full-time job lasting more than two weeks
• continue to participate in job search discussions where your employment plan is updated
• apply for jobs according to your employment plan

If you plan to study with unemployment benefit, always contact your employment service specialist first.

You may have the possibility to study part-time while receiving unemployment benefit. During part-time studies, you must still search for work as agreed in your employment plan and be ready to accept full-time employment. 

In Employment and Growth Services we will always assess the extent of your studies and provide a statement to the payer of the unemployment benefit, either to Kela or the unemployment fund. 

If you are planning to study, always contact your employment service specialist first.
 

You can receive unemployment benefit during short-term studies if you are at least 25 years old and the studies last no more than six months. During short-term studies, you must still apply for jobs as agreed in your employment plan and be ready to accept full-time work. 

In Employment and Growth Services we always assess the extent of your studies and provide a statement to the payer, either Kela or the unemployment fund. 

If you are planning to study, always contact your employment service specialist first. 

A job seeker aged 25 or over may undertake open higher education studies without limitations and without losing their unemployment benefit. Eligible studies include courses provided by a university, university of applied sciences, adult education centre or summer university.

Open higher education studies do not affect unemployment benefits if the studies begin on or after 1 July 2026.

During the studies, the job seeker is still required to:

• apply for job opportunities as agreed in employment plan,
• be ready to accept full-time work, and
• participate in offered services

If you are 25 or over and planning to start open higher education studies, please inform your employment service specialist or employment coach. They will ensure that your planned studies do not affect your unemployment benefits.

If you are under 25, you may undertake studies at an open university or an open university of applied sciences for a maximum period of three months. Before starting your studies, contact your employment service specialist or employment coach. They will discuss your situation with you and explain any possible effects the studies may have.

Job seekers under the age of 25 must always inform employment services about any open higher education studies.

A training trial offers you the opportunity to explore vocational studies and determine how well those suit you. The training trial is mainly available at Tampere Vocational College (Tredu), Tampere Adult Education Centre (TAKK) and Municipal Education and Training Consortium (Sasky).

During the training trial, you will get to know the content of the chosen training and the requirements of the profession. Additionally, you will receive information about employment opportunities in the field and how to apply for studies. 

The duration of the training trial is usually five working days.

If you are interested in a training trial, contact your Employment Service Specialist.

With an apprenticeship, you study while working. It is a fixed-term employment relationship where you receive a salary. The employer trains the employee, but an apprenticeship often also includes some studies at an educational institution. Through an apprenticeship, you can complete any secondary vocational qualification or parts of a qualification. An apprenticeship is also suitable for entrepreneurs or for obtaining additional training.

If you are in pay-subsidized work, work try-out or rehabilitative work activities, you can complete part of a vocational qualification during your work period. This is called work-based learning.

The goals and duration of the studies are tailored individually. Ask your employment service specialist if work based learning is possible for you.