Project
Enhancing Workforce Matching in Northern Central Finland
Project sponsors
The aim of this preliminary study project was to identify companies' labour needs, barriers to employment, and employers' expectations. The project did not yet lead to changes in practices, but instead produced a comprehensive knowledge base that can be used in subsequent stages to target education and training, recruitment, and employment services more effectively.
What was concretely done in the project?
1. Engaging and meeting with companies
- 66 companies from the 13 municipalities in the Northern Central Finland employment area participated in the data collection.
- CEOs, HR representatives and recruitment decision-makers were interviewed.
- The interviews were conducted on-site at the companies, remotely, online or by telephone, according to the companies' preferences.
- Companies were asked, for example, what kind of skills they would need over the next 1–2 years, whether they used public services to support recruitment, and whether they were willing to employ students.
2. Combining statistics and existing information
- The project utilised statistics from the TE Office, previous Labour Force Barometers and company register data.
- This information was combined with experiences gathered from companies, resulting in a reliable and up-to-date overview of the situation.
3. Analysis at three levels
- Micro level: The needs of individual companies and practical challenges related to recruitment were examined.
- Meso level: Common needs and trends across different sectors (e.g. ICT, metal industry, social and health care, and hospitality) were examined.
- Macro level: An overall picture of labour demand and supply across the region was developed.
4. Compiling and modelling the results
- The results were compiled into clear sector-specific profiles, visual infographics and concrete recommendations.
- The results of the preliminary study were published in a report, which is available at: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-830-819-8.
5. Dissemination and utilisation of the results
- Events were organised for municipalities, employment services, companies and educational institutions.
- The results publication event was held on 26 August 2026 at Pankkari in Äänekoski.
- The results were published in clear reports, presentations and concise infographics to make the information easily accessible and usable.
- The results enabled guidance professionals in both the employment area and educational institutions to utilise the material when advising their clients and students on the sectors and skills offering the best employment opportunities.
What benefits did the project provide?
For municipalities and employment services: Up-to-date information to help target services and support where they were most needed.
For educational institutions: Concrete information on the skills and capabilities students needed and on which areas of expertise should be emphasised in education and training.
Further information:
Ms. Johanna Pitkänen
Project Manager, Senior Specialist
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi
+358 40 198 5494
Project results
In Northern Central Finland, there is both a need for labour and a willingness to recruit, but matching workers with jobs is particularly hampered by gaps in skills and work-life readiness, regional accessibility, and fragmented services. Addressing these challenges requires closer and more proactive cooperation between companies, educational institutions, employment services and municipalities.
Project results:
* Overview of labour market matching in Northern Central Finland – Up-to-date information was compiled on the region's companies, labour and skills needs, and labour market developments.
* Employers' needs and perspectives – Employers' recruitment and skills needs, language requirements, and views on different forms of work and labour market flexibility were explored.
* Recruitment challenges and barriers to employment – Key factors hindering the matching of available labour with job opportunities were identified.
* Information on employers' support needs – Employers' views were gathered on the types of support and cooperation they need for recruitment and employment.
* Sector-specific information – Labour and skills needs across different sectors and their development trends were identified.
* Development recommendations – Guidelines were developed for improving education and training, recruitment, employment services and cooperation with businesses.
* Data collection model – A data collection process was modelled that can also be utilised in other employment areas.
* Preliminary study report – The project's key findings, analyses and recommendations were compiled into a report. The report can be found at: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-830-819-8.
The results can be utilised in decision-making in the Northern Central Finland employment area and in the development of future education and training, recruitment and employment services.
How was the study conducted?
The study was conducted as a step-by-step process that combined statistical data, previous research findings, company interviews and survey data, as well as the views of key stakeholders.
1. Initial assessment: An overview of the region's business landscape and labour market situation was developed using statistics, company register data, previous studies and the expertise of regional stakeholders.
2. Company recruitment and field study: Information was collected from 66 companies. Companies were contacted by email and telephone, through networks, and in cooperation with municipalities and business advisors. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and an online survey.
3. Data analysis: Qualitative and quantitative analysis methods were combined. The analysis identified, among other things, challenges related to labour availability, recruitment, skills needs and services, as well as common phenomena across different sectors.
4. Co-creation of results: The findings were further developed in workshops and events together with companies, employment and economic development stakeholders, and educational institutions. This helped to refine and further develop the overview of the situation and to identify solutions to the challenges identified.
5. Compilation of the results: Finally, the findings were compiled into a preliminary study report describing the region's key labour and skills needs, development challenges and recommendations for further development.
The process resulted in a systematic and replicable data collection model that can also be utilised in other employment areas.
Updated 17 August 2026