Unemployment security

Unemployment security provides unemployed job-seekers with the financial means to seek work and to improve their chances of finding work. There are three types of unemployment benefits in Finland: earnings-related allowance, basic daily allowance and labour market subsidy.

An Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) issues a labour policy statement concerning the job-seekers right to an unemployment benefit. The labour policy statement pertains to the labour-policy prerequisites of the benefit. The TE Office submits the labour policy statement directly to the party paying the unemployment benefit (unemployment fund or Kela).

The unemployment funds and Kela decide on other prerequisites for granting the unemployment benefits, make the payment decisions and transfer the benefits to the recipients.

Management, steering and development of the labour-policy aspects of the unemployment security are the responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Management, steering and development of the matters concerning the labour market subsidy are the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Further information:
Timo Meling, timo.meling(at)gov.fi