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Unemployment

If you become unemployed, register immediately as a jobseeker with the employment services of your municipality of residence. You can get unemployment benefits from Kela.
Labour market subsidy
Basic unemployment allowance
Unemployment in different life situations
Did you find a job?

Lost your job?

  1. Register as a jobseeker with the employment services of your municipality of residence
    If you become unemployed or you are temporarily laid off, register immediately as an unemployed jobseeker with the employment services of your municipality of residence at Job Market Finland (tyomarkkinatori.fi/en).
    Do as follows if you become unemployed.
  2. Unemployment benefit from an unemployment fund or Kela?
    If you are a member of an unemployment fund (via your union or otherwise), apply to the fund for an earnings-related unemployment allowance. If you are not a member of an unemployment fund, you should apply for an unemployment benefit from Kela.
    Read more about the unemployment benefits.
  3. What unemployment benefits are available from Kela?
    The unemployment benefits paid by Kela are the basic unemployment allowance and the labour market subsidy. To qualify for basic unemployment allowance, you must meet a specified work requirement. If you do not meet the requirement, you can get labour market subsidy. 

    You can get labour market subsidy even if you have received basic unemployment allowance or earnings-related unemployment allowance for the maximum period of time.
    What is the work requirement?
  4. Keep your registration as a jobseeker valid
    Complete an unemployment status report in the OmaKela e-service (available in Finnish and Swedish) every 4 weeks. Your unemployment benefit is paid on the basis of your report.
    Read the instructions and report the days you have been unemployed.
  5. Keep looking for work
    Use the tyomarkkinatori.fi e-service to look for suitable job opportunities.
    Look up vacancies (tyomarkkinatori.fi).

Is the payment of your earnings-related unemployment allowance about to end?

What else is going on in your life?

  • Do you need help with housing costs?

    Housing allowance can compensate for reduced incomes and help with the housing costs. Read more about the types of costs for which you can get housing allowance.

  • Are you short of money?

    If you are unemployed, you may be really short of money. In that case, social assistance can help you get through the worst.

  • Did you fall ill?

    If you are ill, you should apply for sick leave and sickness allowance instead of unemployment benefit. That way, you do not use up the maximum of 400 days of basic unemployment allowance while on sick leave.

Current topics 

Transfer of TE Services to municipalities – what it means for customers

The job search services available to unemployed persons will change on 1 January 2025. TE Services in their current form will end, with the municipal employment services taking over their responsibilities. This will not affect the unemployment benefits you may get from Kela.

Read more

Rauni has slipped through the cracks

59-year-old Rauni lives on unemployment benefits and the occasional gig as a waiter. Age discrimination and health problems have made it difficult for her to find and retain employment. Rauni feels invisible and like she cannot get any help from employers, healthcare professionals or employment services.

Read more (in Finnish at elämässä.f

 

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