The municipalities of Northern Central Finland hope for the realization of the employment area
"The work to establish the area has been done in good cooperation"
The responsibility for organizing employment services will be transferred to the municipalities from the beginning of 2025. The 13 municipalities of Northern Central Finland, Hankasalmi, Kannonkoski, Karstula, Kinnula, Kivijärvi, Konnevesi, Kyyjärvi, Laukaa, Pihtipudas, Saarijärvi, Uurainen, Viitasaari and Äänekoski, are establishing their own joint employment area of the municipalities, with the city of Äänekoski as the responsible municipality.
- The establishment of the area has been done in good cooperation with the management of the city of Äänekoski, which takes over the management responsibility of the employment area. The main goal of the change is to move employment services closer to companies and job seekers. There is still a lot of work left. I believe that we will succeed in our goal and the new employment area will start at the beginning of 2025, the mayor of Konnevesi Mika Pasanen says.
The municipalities are looking forward to the new joint employment area and hope for a positive decision by the Government. The decision processes of the employment area of the municipalities of Northern Central Finland are now progressing during October.
The municipal leaders thank the fact that the preparation has been started in good time in Äänekoski and North Central Finland. - It has ensured that our decision-makers have also had an idea of the upcoming change and its possible effects for a long time. Äänekoski has led the preparation process with a sense of purpose and has done his part in a situation that requires good preparation, Viitasaari city manager Helena Vuopionperä-Kovanen thank.
- The change is also positive from the point of view of Konnevesi. The employment area of Northern Central Finland ensures that the services are close to each other and the clerks have a real opportunity to get to know the local entrepreneurs and people who need employment services, Mika Pasanen states.
Mayor of Pihitputaa Ari Kinnunen says that also from their point of view, the preparation of the employment area has gone well. - We hope that all the municipalities involved in the preparation will get a positive decision to join.
- It is good that the preparation is approaching the time of decision-making and the State Council can do its part in establishing employment areas. Even the decision-makers in the municipalities face a demanding task of getting deeper than the surface into the backgrounds of employment management, says the mayor of Kivijärvi Pekka Helpnikanga.
Employment as part of the vitality of the municipality
- Although the city of Äänekoski will be responsible for the statutory organizing responsibility and services, Äänekoski is not alone in this. We want to do this together with the municipalities in a participatory manner, and the municipalities' wishes have been heard. It is great that the municipalities have wanted to participate strongly in the preparation of the employment area, the mayor of Äänekoski Matti Tuononen says.
- In addition to that, municipalities now have a great opportunity to build their own vitality task in connection with the services of the employment area, Äänekoski city's employment manager Riikka Hytönen more.
- From our point of view, the new model brings services even closer and hopefully it will be able to meet local needs even better. Of course, it is interesting to develop the reform with our own employment management model in mind, as well as the role of our development company, for example, from the point of view of business service tasks transferred to new municipalities, says Helena Vuopionperä-Kovanen from Viitasaari.
Also according to Pihtiputaa's municipal manager Ari Kinnusen, the municipalities expect close cooperation with the municipality's vitality unit from the renewed labor services. - We believe that the closer cooperation of employment services with the municipality's vitality unit will bring added value to individual customers as well, says Kinnunen.
- Here at Konnevede, the energy company is also preparing for close cooperation with the employment area to be established, says Mika Pasanen.
The new employment area brings local services to the municipalities
The specially designed local service model receives praise from the municipalities of the Northern Central Finland employment area. - We look forward to customers receiving their labor service as a local service again, says Ari Kinnunen.
The new employment area would have four permanent positions in Äänekoski, Laukaa, Saarijärvi and Viitasaari. In addition to that, a service point is planned for each municipality in connection with the municipal hall, where the services are brought on site.
- I believe that those who are willing to work have good opportunities to get a job, as long as they have faith in their own abilities, says Pekka Helppikangas from Kivijärvi.
For more information:
Mayor of Äänekoski Matti Tuononen, 040 572 3239, matti.tuononen@aanekoski.fi
Äänekoski employment manager Riikka Hytonen, 040 194 6100, riikka.hytonen@aanekoski.fi
News published, modified 23.10.2023 at 09:38
