Positive structural change

A positive structural change refers to a situation where a company makes a significant investment in a region, thereby strengthening its vitality and boosting employment in the area. Ensuring the success of positive structural change requires close cooperation between regional operators and the company making the investment so that key issues concerning the location of the company, availability of skilled labour, accessibility of the region and settling-in of employees can be solved in a timely manner.

A regional cooperation group that brings together e.g. employment authorities, municipalities, development companies, educational institutions, the regional council and representatives of the company often helps to manage the process by ensuring seamless flow of information and coordination and by providing situational updates. It is also important to have a sufficient amount of available skilled labour or to attract new workforce to the region through educational opportunities, retraining programmes, recruitment and a well-functioning housing system and other services.

Foresight is essential because an early identification of necessary skills, education, housing and infrastructure will enable the investment to be made within the planned timetable and improve the region’s capacity to meet the conditions for growth.

There is a great potential for positive structural change across the Finnish regions and sectors. Making full use of such opportunities requires long-term efforts, capability for foresight and close cooperation between regional operators.