Growth from people’s ideas, courage to renew and cooperation – nearly EUR 4 million funding call launched to develop work in Finland

The National Working Life Development Strategy to 2035 has been completed. The strategy aims to accelerate Finland’s economic growth by modernising the world of work so that Finnish workplaces become more innovative, more productive and better places to work. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and the Ministry of Education and Culture published the strategy and an accompanying implementation roadmap on 2 June 2026.

“Work must enable people to stay well and find what they do meaningful. In that kind of environment, ideas emerge – and these ideas underpin innovation and Finland’s growth. We must drive the renewal of work in close partnership between employees and employers,” says Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen, who led the preparation of the strategy.

“Finland’s economy has finally returned to clear growth. The future of work calls for a strong capacity for renewal and a transition to AI, but in a way that keeps people on board. That is why the strategy emphasises people management, continuous learning, diversity across workplaces and, in particular, giving young people a strong start to their careers,” says Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, who also led the strategy work.

At its core, the strategy seeks to strengthen workplaces’ ability to make better use of skills, new technologies and employees’ ideas. The aim is to boost productivity, wellbeing at work and skills simultaneously across Finland’s labour market.

The strategy sets out four priorities for renewing work in Finland:

• harnessing new technologies as a driver of renewal
• strengthening diversity as a source of creativity
• giving young people a strong start to their careers
• embedding learning in day-to-day work.

This transformation is driven by three ‘superpowers’: interaction that is built on trust, a culture that encourages learning and renewal, and people management.

Target to reach 10,000 workplaces each year – a joint effort by employees, employers and development organisations

The strategy has been developed jointly by 16 organisations, including ministries, central labour market confederations and expert bodies, that aim to improve the world of work in Finland. Going forward, all organisations interested in developing work are warmly invited to take part in implementation. In the first phase, the goal is to reach 10,000 workplaces by 2027, followed by a similar number each year thereafter.

Initial joint actions in 2026 will include workplace-level future dialogues, learning networks to support workplace development, and the above-mentioned ESF+ funding call, which will allocate approximately EUR 4 million to projects that advance the strategy’s objectives. A research and monitoring framework will be established to assess how workplace development affects productivity and wellbeing at work.

Inquiries:
Jaakko Aromaa, Special Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 110 (questions to the Minister of Employment)
Laura Rissanen, State Secretary, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 632
Antti Närhinen, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047002
Liisa Hakala, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. +358 295 163 566
Aleksi Kalenius, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 330 291
Sinimaaria Ranki, Chief Specialist, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, tel. +358 30 474 3325