If you become unemployed or are temporarily laid off, register as a jobseeker as soon as possible.
You can register as a jobseeker before your unemployment or lay-off begins if you know the date in advance. Be sure to register on your first day of unemployment at the latest.
- Register as a jobseeker in the Job Market Finland E-services(Link leads to external service).
To sign in to the e-services, you will need online banking credentials, a mobile certificate or an ID card with a chip. - Fill in the required information carefully. Make sure that your work, education and contact information is correct.
- Describe your situation in as much detail as possible. For example, describe the end of your employment, your studies or entrepreneurship, if applicable. Providing us with sufficient information will speed up the processing of your matters.
- If you are unable to use e-services, you can register as a jobseeker over the phone or by visiting a Helsinki Employment Services office.
As a jobseeker, you have certain rights and responsibilities defined by law, such as the right to unemployment benefits and the obligation to seek work.
Learn more about the rights and responsibilities of jobseekers
Once you have registered as a jobseeker, we will check whether you are entitled to unemployment benefits, i.e. to financial support paid to you. We will issue a statement on your eligibility to the payer of the benefits.
Unemployment benefits include:
Once you have registered as a jobseeker, we will contact you within about five business days of your registration. You do not need to contact us yourself. We will schedule an initial interview with you to be held at a Helsinki Employment Services office or in some other agreed upon manner.
The initial interview includes discussion about your situation. The topics covered with our specialist include what kinds of jobs you could apply for, whether you need education or training and whether you want to change careers. Together with your specialist, you will also draw up an employment or integration plan. This involves determining what services you need for employment or education and training.
In the initial interview, we will also agree on how you will keep in touch with us in the future.
Our specialist will draw up an employment plan or other plan with you. The plan is designed to provide both you and Employment Services with a clear picture of the status of your job search.
If you have been unemployed for a long time and your primary goal is to improve your life management and chances of getting a job, we will prepare an activation plan or a multisectoral employment plan with you.
If you have received your first residence permit in Finland less than three years ago and you benefit from integration services, we may prepare an integration plan for you.
The plan is valid for three months. You can view your current employment plan in the Job Market Finland E-services.(Link leads to external service)
Let us know if your situation changes and your plan needs to be updated.
We offer a range of different free-of-charge services to support your employment. You can take part in e.g. a job search workshop, career guidance or training. Employment Services will also support you if you are looking for education or career change opportunities. You can discuss your participation in them with your assigned specialist.
We will hold a job search discussion with you three months after your initial interview or previous job search discussion.
Between discussions, you should actively search for jobs or carry out the other measures recorded in your employment plan.
In the discussions, we will review how your job search and your employment plan have progressed. We will provide you with advice on how to proceed with the services you need.
Be sure to let us know immediately if your situation changes. If your contact information changes, update it in the Job Market Finland E-services(Link leads to external service) to allow us to reach you going forward.
Your jobseeker status may be suspended if you do not do as agreed or respond when the Employment Services is trying to contact you. Repeated negligence of your obligation to seek work or other obligations affects the payment of your unemployment benefits.