On 22 February 2024, the Government made a decision on four employment areas. All future employment areas are now known.

Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) have handled their tasks well, albeit with room for improvement in the steering system and agency structure, states a newly published external evaluation report on the agency entity comprising the ELY Centres.

On 8 December 2023, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment decided to grant a total of EUR 825,000 in coordination funding to six areas to manage structural change and to strengthen their vitality.

The economic and employment situation in the regions has deteriorated and near-term expectations in many regions are more negative than before. However, the depressed economic trend is expected to be short-lived, with the outlook for the autumn of next year already looking brighter. This data comes from the publication Regional Development Prospects for autumn 2023, the results of which were presented at the Aluekehittämispäivät event in Lahti on 23 November.

On 21 November 2023, the ministerial working group on employment and entrepreneurship discussed the formation of employment areas. A total of 44 employment areas will be established in Finland. Most of the areas reported by municipalities fulfilled the requirements of the Act, but for six areas it is proposed that an application for an exemption be approved.