Government report on the future

Once during each electoral period, the Government submits to Parliament a report on the future focusing on long-term perspectives. Each report is restricted to key strategic issues relative to policy decisions to be taken in a 10-20 year period.

In addition to the Government, the report process always involves Parliament. The aim is also to encourage broad debate in society.

Part 1 of the Government Report on the Future published

Part 1, entitled ‘A Shared Understanding of the Transformation of Work’ of the Government Report on the Future has been published. The themes of the foresight report drawn up by Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s Government are the transformation of work and the future of Finnish labour. Preparation of the report began in March 2016 and the work will be completed in two parts, in 2017 and 2018. The report seeks answers to broad questions focusing on how work will be done in the future, and it generates information on what the change of work means and how Finland can successfully adapt to the change and seize the new opportunities it brings.

On Thursday 8 June 2017, the Government session decided to submit to Parliament Part 1’A Shared Understanding of the Transformation of Work’ of the foresight report. Part 1 examines the future of work, factors that impact it and what the changes mean for Finland. The result is an updated and well-thought-out situation analysis of the future of work over a time span of about two decades.

The second part, which will be submitted to Parliament in 2018, aims to create a view on the solutions and policy measures needed so that Finland and Finnish labour will do well and succeed in the future. 

The report is being prepared utilising national foresight procedures, which are based on the utilisation of continuous and systemic foresight in decision-making. Besides the Government Report on the Future, the Government will also exploit foresight in its strategic procedures. The aim is to shift the Government’s foresight efforts towards a model where foresight and future-oriented thinking are part of civil servants’ and decision-makers’ daily work.

Part 1 of the Government Report on the Future: Toward a shared understanding of the future of work 
Background study for Part 1: A Shared Understanding of the Transformation of Work of the Government Report on the Future (in Finnish only)