Work ability programme

The Work ability programme is part of the Government Programme and aims to increase the employment rate. The focus is shifted from examining incapacity for work to strengthening existing work ability and functional capacity and promoting employability. 

The programme aims to: 

• support access to employment and the continued employment of the unemployed with partial work ability and the long-term unemployed; 
• prevent prolonged unemployment and incapacity for work; 
• increasing labour market involvement of those with a weak labour market position. 
• The Work ability programme draws on the work and results of previous development programmes (for example, the OTE flagship project designed to offer those with partial work ability a path to work life). 

The Work ability programme consists of four sets of measures aimed at: 

1. integrating work ability support into the social and health center of the future; 
2. increasing the use of subsidized employment methods to support those struggling the most with finding employment; 
3. strengthening the skills of professionals; 
4. carrying out an evaluation study on the impact of project interventions and on the co-ordination of services and benefits. 

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health is developing work ability and employment support training in connection with the programme and strengthening the skills of service system professionals and the implementation of projects. The skills of professionals are strengthened by, for example, the following means: 

• developing and implementing work ability support training; 
• supporting the launch of the work ability coordinator training as part of the training system; 
• developing instructor training for work ability co-ordinators. 

The work ability support training is intended for those working in projects receiving state support for the Work ability programme or co-operating with said projects. In 2021, we will organize eight free training sessions, which will be held online. Work ability support training 2.0 will be developed on the basis of the training assessment.

In the autumn of 2022, the training will become open to everyone! 

In the training, you will learn to support the client's work ability and employment by: 

• strengthening client involvement; 
• identifying the client's need for work ability support; 
• drawing up a work ability support plan; 
• building service packages and utilizing means of work ability support; 
• operating in multidisciplinary networks; 
• co-ordinating the client's work ability support services; 
• learning about good practices and operational models. 

As part of the Work ability programme, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has granted EUR 17 million in central government grants for the development of work ability and employment support services for the unemployed with partial work ability. The grant is awarded to 22 regional projects from different parts of Finland. 

The projects bring the services of work ability support as part of the activities of social and health care centres and increase the use of subsidized employment methods to help those struggling the most with finding employment. 

Grants were awarded to municipalities and joint municipal authorities whose social and health care operators co-operate with, for example, the Employment and Economic Development Office, Kela, educational institutions, businesses and organizations.

• The Work ability programme is managed and implemented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in co-operation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 
• The action package of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) relates to the whole funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 
• The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is responsible for the operational implementation.  
• FIOH is responsible for strengthening the skills of professionals. 
• THL and FIOH support the projects and participate in the preparation and evaluation work at national level.