Losing your job in Finland does not mean losing your safety net. Here is how unemployment benefits work and where to get help finding new work.
Register as an unemployed jobseeker at TE Services (te-palvelut.fi) on your first day of unemployment. This is required to receive any unemployment benefits. You must actively seek work and accept reasonable job offers or training. TE Services assigns you a personal employment plan within 2 weeks.
There are two types: earnings-related allowance (ansiopäiväraha, about 50 to 70 percent of your previous salary, requires membership in an unemployment fund for at least 26 weeks while employed) and basic allowance from Kela (about 37 euros per day, roughly 800 euros per month, for those not in an unemployment fund). Both require active job seeking.
Join an unemployment fund (työttömyyskassa) as soon as you start working in Finland. Membership costs about 5 to 15 euros per month. After working and paying contributions for at least 26 weeks, you qualify for earnings-related unemployment allowance if you lose your job. This pays significantly more than the basic Kela allowance.
TE Services offers free career counselling, job matching, Finnish language courses, vocational training, subsidised employment (palkkatuki), and startup grants for entrepreneurs. Integration training (kotoutumiskoulutus) is available for immigrants and combines language training with work life skills. These services are free.
To keep receiving benefits, you must apply for jobs regularly, attend meetings with TE Services, accept suitable job offers or training, and report your situation. If you refuse a reasonable job offer or training without good cause, your benefits may be suspended or reduced for 15 to 90 days.
Common mistake
Not joining an unemployment fund while employed. By the time you lose your job, it is too late — you need 26 weeks of membership while working to qualify for earnings-related benefits.
Good to know
Finland also offers a so-called adjusted unemployment benefit if you find part-time work while unemployed. This means you get reduced benefits on top of your part-time income, making it always worth accepting any work.