Jobseeker rights
- You will receive unemployment benefits from Kela or your unemployment fund if your situation meets the conditions of your unemployment benefits.
- Specialists at Employment Services will help and support you in looking for work and guide you in matters related to e.g. unemployment benefits.
- We offer free services that will help you find work or training opportunities. These are examples of the services you can get:
Jobseeker responsibilities
As a jobseeker, you have certain responsibilities. When you comply with them, you are eligible for unemployment benefits. If you are unsure about your responsibilities, ask your assigned specialist for guidance.
The obligation to seek work means that, as a jobseeker, you must apply for work every month.
Jobseekers are usually required to apply for four jobs a month. In some circumstances, the number may be lower. You will agree on this with your assigned specialist when you register as a jobseeker or when you update your employment plan.
Employment Services can offer you job offers for jobs that might be suitable for you. When you receive a job offer from us, you must apply for this job if you have been seeking work for at least six months. If you have already fulfilled your obligation to seek work, you do not need to apply for the job offered.
If you are under 25 years of age(Link leads to external service) and do not have a vocational qualification, you must also apply for at least two study places.
Your specialist will contact you every three months to see if you need to update your job search obligation.
You can fulfil your obligation to seek work in many ways, such as by
- applying for a job that lasts at least two weeks by replying to a job advertisement or submitting an open application to the employer.
- applying for a job that was offered to you by the Employment Services.
- requesting additional hours from your current employer if you are working part-time.
- registering as an applicant in a temporary work agency or applying for a job through a temporary work agency.
- publishing a job search profile on the Job Market Finland website (Link leads to external service)or another job search site, or by publishing your portfolio online.
- becoming an entrepreneur.
- applying for work grants.
- Notify Employment Services of the type of work you have applied for, how and where. Our specialist will agree with you on a deadline by which you must report on your job search.
- Use the Job Market Finland E-services(Link leads to external service) for contacts unless you have agreed on a different reporting method with your specialist.
- If you have not fulfilled your job search obligation, you will receive a reminder. Repeated negligence of your obligation to seek work or other obligations affects the payment of your unemployment benefits.
- If you start working or studying or become an entrepreneur, please let us know without delay.
If your job search is interrupted or discontinued, you will not receive the unemployment benefit.
Do as agreed with your specialist at the agreed time and respect the deadlines. Respond to requests for clarification, calls and messages that you receive from us. Your jobseeker status may be suspended if you do not do as agreed or respond when the Employment Services is trying to contact you.
To make your job application valid, register as a jobseeker in the Job Market Finland E-services(Link leads to external service) again. If you are unable to use the Job Market Finland E-services, contact the Employment Services’ advisory service.
If you no longer need help seeking work and do not need unemployment benefits, conclude your job search in the Job Market Finland E-services. (Link leads to external service)
The Employment Services do not receive change of address information from the Population Information System, so you must provide us with the new address yourself. You can update your contact information in the Job Market Finland E-services(Link leads to external service). Also let us know if your phone number or email changes.
If you refuse a job offered to you or a mandatory job offer for no valid reason, you may be put on a mandatory waiting period(Link leads to external service) of 30–45 days. Unemployment benefits will not be paid to you during the waiting period.
If you repeatedly fail to fulfil your agreed obligations; resign; suspend or refuse to use the services; or neglect your obligation to work, you may be given a 7–45-day waiting period.