Unemployed, lonely and unmotivated – young people in Lahti tell how difficult it can be to find a job

Youth unemployment has grown faster in Lahti than in the rest of the country. For many young adults, the priority is not employment but mental well-being.

Youth unemployment has risen to worrying levels in Lahti.

The unemployment rate for under-25s was nearly 20% in January, while the figure for the whole country is just over 15%. Only in Pori and Kouvola is youth unemployment higher.

More than a thousand young people under 25 in Lahti are currently without a job or a place to study.

According to the employment statistics of the City of Lahti, the unemployed under the age of 30 have many uneducated, about 500 people. \n Suspension of education in Lahti is more common in Lahti.

According to youth workers in Lahti, many young adults in Lahti show vision, loneliness and lack of motivation.

Kela has begun to suspect the need for social assistance.

– Now you just have to complete the courses. But I have more in life, like band activities. Many iron are on fire.

According to Sorjonen, getting a job is tough.

– A lot of work experience is required in my field. Where in the meantime would I have had time to accumulate?

Youth work cannot help everyone

There are a lot of Sorjonen. The service of Lahti’s Detective Youth Work has been congested. Detective youth work supports young people, for example, in job search. There are now hundreds of more contacts than a few years ago, and not all requests can be answered immediately.

Service counselors do not do things for young people, but with them.

They go to employment services, help to say the situation of the young person and interpret the authorities’ speech to young people.

According to service counselor Anni Häkkinen, some young people’s working capacity has been impaired, so that job search is not topical. Then you have to apply for rehabilitation services or sick leave.

– Employment is not necessarily the first goal, but everyday management, mental well -being, rehabilitation of intoxicants or something else, says Häkkinen.

Aleksi Sorjonen, who is struggling with her studies with her studies, has received support for coping with the Lahti Youth Services Basement Café.

– Here you have met people, got to talk and find friends. It has done really good for general well -being. And, of course, it helps in studying when you can do better.

“Clumsy employment services”

Anni Häkkinen estimates that Lahti has good services for young people, even though some of the services are congested.

There may also be situations that services do not discuss with each other. Employment services alone are not enough for many young people.

-The TE services were a bit stupid. I thought that it was possible to get to know the world of work. But there was more about what it is like to be a job seeker.

Leivo decided to find his own path.

From the beginning of the year, TE services have been transferred from the state to municipalities. Lahti’s employment services are now planning to assemble multi -professional services to help jobseekers.

Young people also have their own responsibilities and duties

According to Anni Häkkinen, alongside employment services, health care services, parallel or home services would be needed.

– Some young people are excited about services. They do not know what the requirements are or what a young person should look like. For example, you dare to tell about substance use, says Häkkinen.

Financial benefits are important because they affect the fluency of everyday life. Whether you get food and be able to pay your bills. Young people may be afraid of losing some benefit.

– Still, plans cannot be made above. Sometimes a young person needs rehabilitation instead of being an active job seeker.

Häkkinen points out that there are obligations and responsibilities alongside rights.

– Young people need gentle love and forward. We take the young person’s life in the direction of being able to carry himself.