The Employment Area Board started its work with orientation in Äänekoski
The employment regional board of the Northern Central Finland employment region met for the first time in Äänekoski on September 4.9.2024, 13 for an orientation session. Each of the XNUMX municipalities is represented on the board. - I believe that our cooperation will be fruitful. The common goal of all of us is to get people to work, including the long-term unemployed, chairman of the board Henna Penttinen says.
From the beginning of 2025, public employment services will be transferred from TE offices to the responsibility of municipalities. The 13 municipalities of Northern Central Finland form a common employment area, where labor services become part of the municipal services. Hankasalmi, Kannonkoski, Karstula, Kinnula, Kivijärvi, Konnevesi, Kyyjärvi, Laukaa, Pihtipudas, Saarijärvi, Uurainen, Viitasaari and Äänekoski have established the joint Northern Central Finland employment area, the responsibility of which is the city of Äänekoski. The employment region of Northern Central Finland is one of the largest regions in Finland in terms of the number of municipalities.
The Northern Central Finland Employment Regional Board is a joint institution of the municipalities. The operation of the Northern Central Finland Employment Regional Board begins on January 1.1.2025, XNUMX, and the board is chaired by Henna Penttinen from Äänekoski and vice-chairman Kari Salokivi From Saarijärvi.
More effective job placement and vitality
The goal of the reform is that employment services would be closer to municipal residents and employers in the future.
- We want vitality and the goal is to employ the residents of our area. The employment area provides jobs and the role of companies and employers is highlighted, the mayor of Äänekoski Matti Tuononen says.
- The reform is an opportunity for employment services to become a large part of the municipalities' vitality, Konnevesi's municipal manager Mika Pasanen highlight.
- Our goal is for the services to move smoothly. We try to do job placement as widely as possible. We want to put the employer perspective first, so that we get jobs and employees for companies. We especially want to invest in young people as well. Young people are our future, preparation project director Riikka Hytönen says.
The preparation is moving like a train
The preparatory work for the employment area has progressed in good cooperation and on schedule. The transfer of TE services to municipalities is a significant new statutory task. Preparations are currently being made, e.g. in terms of moving personnel, facilities, procurement, information system issues and communication.
The recruitment of the employment area manager is underway. There were 17 applications for employment regional director and the selection will be made during the fall. The state's TE offices will cease and 65 employees from the state will be transferred to the city of Äänekoski from January 1.1.2025, XNUMX. Competent and expert workforce will be transferred to the city of Äänekoski, which will be able to ensure the continuation of services in a significant change.
Most of the transferred employees will work in Äänekoski, so additional space is needed. The 1st floor of the Äänekoski town hall has been renovated to provide more office space for the employment services. Work spaces for other positions are also being prepared in Laukaasi, Saarijärvi and Viitasaari. The service will also be brought face-to-face to other municipalities in the employment area, and space issues are currently being organized in the municipalities.
- What is special in our employment area is the decentralized model, where the service is offered as a local service in every municipality, Tuononen says.
State contributions are decreasing
- The common goal of the 13 municipalities of the employment area is that we can get by with state funding, Tuononen states. However, the state contributions for employment care have decreased from the original estimates.
- According to the latest June state contribution calculation, the 13 state contribution increase for the management of TE services in the Northern Central Finland cooperation area (for 2025 municipalities) is a total of 7,9 million euros, while it was 9,1 million euros in the previous calculation. According to the new calculation, 1,2 million euros less money will be received for employment care. At the same time, the unemployment rate has increased, so reduced funding brings challenges to the organization of TE services, Äänekoski's financial director I met Hämäläinen says.
- The economic situation requires cost-effective and effective methods of operation, states Riikka Hytönen.
The final calculations will be published in autumn 2024 in connection with the state budget proposal.
For more information:
Administrative Director
Aleksi Heikkilä
040 823 7921
aleksi.heikkila@aanekoski.fi
Project manager
Riikka Hytönen
040 194 6100
riikka.hytonen@aanekoski.fi
More information about the preparation of the Northern Central Finland employment area: https://www.aanekoski.fi/tyo-ja-yrittaminen/pohjoisen-keski-suomen-tyollisyysalueen-valmistelu
Employment regional board: https://www.aanekoski.fi/hallinto-ja-paatokset/toimielimet/tyollisyysaluelautakunta
News published, modified 10.9.2024 at 13:41