The long-term unemployed hold employment potential

Along with economic growth, long-term unemployment has also decreased, while at the same time demand for skilled labour has increased. The purpose of this study was to examine the employment potential of the long-term unemployed and ways of decreasing their employment threshold.

The study consisted of surveys targeted at long-term unemployed persons who had participated in employment and business services and competence development services, long-term unemployed persons who had found employment and employers. In addition to this, interviews were conducted with providers of employment services, employers and unemployed persons who had found employment.

The target group has a great deal of employment potential, which was reflected in the jobseekers’ high level of education, employment orientation, motivation and hopefulness about finding employment. The long-term unemployed were prepared for long commutes, flexibility in regard to the length and nature of their employment relationship and to undergo training rather than change their place of residence for work.

Social networks and relations with previous employers are important employment channels for the unemployed. When unemployment is prolonged, network connections to working life decline, due to which the long-term unemployed need help in establishing contacts with employers.

From the perspective of employers, re-training unemployed persons is a good solution to the labour shortage, but employers were not very eager to train new employees. Employers were largely unfamiliar with the subsidies available for hiring long-term unemployed persons and need more information on the subject.