“Leena” doesn’t even want the jobs she applies for – here’s why the application requirement doesn’t work

The government wants to tighten the obligation to look for a job, but this does not seem to save the employment situation. We tell you what the problems are with the compulsory job application system.

The government wants to tighten the obligation to look for work, even though there is no evidence that it will increase employment.

Two legislative reforms are pending that would increase the obligation to apply for part-time jobs and increase the penalties for not doing so.

The obligation to look for work does not seem to be a solution to the poor employment situation. The number of job vacancies is falling, making it challenging for many people to find work. And an obligation cannot force anyone to apply for a job in earnest.

We found out how the job search obligation works.

Difficult to fill because there is no work

– When asked, I was always told that the work would continue. The situation changed rapidly as the group was laid off.

Last year, at the TE Office, Härkönen had to apply for only two jobs a month because there were no jobs in his field.

– There were about 20 open jobs, and none of them were my field. I thought unemployment could become long if the situation did not improve.

At the turn of the year, employment services were transferred from state TE centers to municipalities. In March, Härkönen’s job search obligation was increased to four according to the plan. The number of jobs has not increased.

Still, Härkönen has usually applied for more places than the job search obligation has required.

– I have applied for the factory for turn, as an installer, an electrician, a salesman and so on. One of the jobs was that thanks to your application, 183 came and one was chosen.

According to Härkönen, the job search obligation forces people to seek jobs that they have no qualifications.

Now Härkönen’s unemployment days are running out. At the beginning of May, he will start driving a taxi. His friend hinted at the workplace. He cannot get out of the job search obligation until work begins.

– A little unnecessary paper warfare on both sides. I and they know I don’t get a place, but I have to apply for it. There must be a certain number of searches per month.

Government’s employment target at risk of slipping

The government intends to tighten the job search obligation. Part-time people should also apply for four jobs per month to get an agreed unemployment benefit. Currently, those who are part-time work must apply for one place in three months.

One of the goals of the bill is that the job search obligation is not reduced as much as it is today.

An official may reduce the job search obligation, for example, due to a poor job situation or health reasons. Currently, only about one third of the unemployed need to apply for the maximum amount, or four seats per month.

Now the search obligation is reduced quite often.

If Parliament approves the law change in the fall, it will enter into force early next year.

At the same time, the government is already preparing another legal reform. It would also tighten jobseekers’ penalties in a situation where the applicant does not fulfill his or her application obligations.

No information on the effectiveness of the application obligation

There is no research on the effectiveness of the job search obligation. This is to be investigated next fall.

The estimates of the desired effects have been modest.

The tightening of a part-time job search obligation is estimated to bring 150 additional employees.

The start of the job search obligation has not significantly increased job applications sent to open jobs. This is described in the report of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

According to Haapakoski, the results show that most unemployed people apply for more places than the obligation requires.

This suggests that the problem is not a job search.

According to Haapakoski, the core of the problem is the lack of jobs. The job search obligation of many applicants has been reduced because there are no jobs.

– Increasing the obligation does not eliminate the fact that there are no jobs. This is the big problem.

The obligation to apply cannot force you to work

Lena’s Leena’s career, which lasted for more than 20 years, kicked into the conversion negotiations.

The name of Leena has been changed because it could affect her situation in employment services.

Leena began studying a new field immediately with the notice. He is expected to be completed in May.

In three months, Leena must apply for three jobs. It’s difficult because she wants to graduate and then find a job in her field.

– It’s hard to apply for places. I know that school takes so much time that it is not possible for me to go to work.

As a result, Leena now says she has been looking for jobs that she can’t get.

Once, an employer called and asked directly if the application had been made due to compulsion. Leena admitted it, and the recruitment process stopped.

Leena believes she will be employed after graduation, but the job search obligation has no part or lot.

– Then I really put on a job search. Now the search has gone a bit with my left hand. I have always done my job well and carried out my school with honor. I believe I will be employed in the field I study.

Jobseekers must report to the employment services about the places they have applied for. Employment services do not really have the way to monitor how serious the applications have been made.

Toni Ruokonen, a specialist at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, estimates that supervision is mainly dependent on employers’ activity.

According to the obligation, the jobs applied for must be such that the applicant can reasonably assume that they are employed. The job search obligation may not be fulfilled if the applicant, for example, applies for a doctor without a degree.

– It is always more impressive for employment than not sending applications.