The Government has decided to grant Kymenlaakso a total of EUR 6 million to mitigate the impact of sudden structural change. The region is looking for new growth in the battery and food sectors, in particular. In all, the development package for Kymenlaakso amounts to ca. EUR 9 million.

A new agreement on working holiday arrangements, adopted by the Finnish Parliament last autumn, will make it easier for young people aged 18–30 in the partner countries to familiarise themselves with the other country and work on a temporary basis to finance their stay.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment begins a process for the preparation of a Government report on security of supply. Security of supply and preparedness have become a topic of active public debate following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic also created a need to build better plans for our security of supply extending across several government terms. The report will support this development work

The importance of successful integration is growing in Finland as the working-age population is ageing and the number of people with an immigrant background is increasing. A Government report on integration proposes an extensive programme to better support immigrants in their integration. 

On 29 October, the Government has submitted a proposal to Parliament, according to which the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment as well as the Employment and Economic Development Offices could acquire and offer studies leading to a university degree as labour market training when certain preconditions are met between 1 January 2021 and 30 June 2022. The aim of the proposal is to promote employment and secure the availability of competent workforce especially in growing sectors and, simultaneously, take the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the labour market into account.