Modelling helps in planning services that are more appropriate for people with partial work capacity

Current employment services do not recognise the individual situations and competences of people with partial work capacity efficiently, which is why employment outcomes for them are often poor. At least 40,000 people would be willing to contribute to the labour market if it was made possible for them.

Their unemployment means a cost of more than EUR 500 million a year for society. On the other hand, finding employment for a third of them would bring not only human impacts but also approximately EUR 200 million a year in the form of saved income transfers and increasing tax revenue for society.

The information comes from the modelling developed by the Centre of Expertise for Impact Investing,

which helps in better identifying people with partial work capacity and in planning and offering more suitable services for them. The modelling can also be used to assess the effectiveness of measures that are taken and to calculate the benefits of employment to society.

“It would be good to test the tool in connection with the local government trials on boosting employment and the reform of TE Services. The modelling will help in analysing clients’ service needs and in the coordination of services. The tool will be useful also for planning service procurements and determining price levels as well as for service design,” says Mika Pyykkö, Director from the Centre of Expertise for Impact Investing.

“With a good attitude and proper planning, it is possible to find work opportunities for people despite their background, capacity and special needs and help them become fully capable of work.  Individuals’ work capacity is always related to their skills and the task, it is not a person's characteristic.  The partial capacity for work disappears when a suitable job and employee meet,” says Director Tuija Oivo.

The modelling gave experts, professionals and people without employment a visualised tool that can be used to illustrate various training and career paths and services, benefits and support services and to assess these paths’ benefits to society.

“An essential feature of the modelling is that it assesses an individual’s situation and opportunities for employment as a whole, taking into account their skills and life situation, the general labour market situation, and the services provided by society.  In this way, it is possible to offer appropriate service in a timely and fitting manner. The modelling can be applied in the planning of services for other jobseekers, too,” Pyykkö says.

Inquiries:
Mika Pyykkö, Director, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7135 (more information about the model and its use)
Tuija Oivo, Director, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 9040 (working capacity programme for people with partial work capacity)
Liisa Björklund, tel. +358 40 571 8866 (more information about the model)
Petri Hilli, tel. 040 754 2090 (more information about the model)