The aim of the work ability programme was to eliminate obstacles to the employment of people with partial work ability and develop services to support the work ability of people with partial work ability
The work ability programme (2019–2023) was part of the Government’s set of employment-related measures. Its implementation was based on the Programme of Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s Government. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment was responsible for the programme and implemented the programme in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The measures taken by the administrative branches of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health supported and complemented each other.
About 65,000 people with partial work ability, who are currently outside the labour market, estimate that they have the capacity to work and they would like to work. The work ability programme and the measures taken under it sought solutions to the currently known problems associated with the employment of people with partial work ability.
The measures of the programme concerned the unemployed. Most of the measures were broad-based and sought solutions that support both the work ability of the persons and their employment. The aims were to better identify the need to support the work ability of people with partial work ability, provide personalised and well-timed work ability and employment services, and promote the creation of jobs for people with partial work ability. New solutions were sought through, for example, experimental projects concerning the introduction of effective services and operating models.
The work ability programme’s aims were:
to identify the need to support the work ability of people with partial work ability
to provide people with partial work ability individual and well-timed work ability and employment services
to strengthen the expertise and resources of experts to improve services for people with partial work ability
to promote the creation of jobs for people with partial work ability
to develop services for employers to facilitate the recruitment of people with partial work ability
to reform the current rehabilitation paths and rehabilitation services based on the proposals of the Rehabilitation Reform Committee
to seek solutions to lower the recruitment threshold by developing services and participating in the preparation of the social security reform
The work ability programme strengthened work ability support services in the wellbeing services counties’ health and social services centres
The measures of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health developed work ability support services at the wellbeing services counties’ health and social services centres to strengthen work ability and operating capacity and promote employment. One important part of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s measures was to strengthen the competence of professionals in supporting work ability by developing training modules. A total of 22 development projects funded by discretionary government grants were carried out in the areas, and their activities were assessed by means of an evaluation study.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health were responsible for the operational implementation of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s measures.
The continuity of work ability support services will be ensured in the wellbeing services counties
The evaluation study on the work ability programme was focused on the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s projects that received discretionary government grants, and it was carried out in cooperation between the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health. In addition to assessing the implementation, results, impacts and effectiveness of the projects that received discretionary government grants, the study aimed to produce information on the coordination of the services and benefits of the target group to support the social security reform. The study used register, survey, interview, documentary and observation data within a framework of multi-method evaluation research.
According to the evaluation study, the new services were perceived to be useful and they had positive effects on the customers’ work ability and operating capacity in the short term. The study recommends that the services should continue to be made increasingly work-oriented, and the continuity of the services under the new service structures needs to be ensured.
To support the activities of the wellbeing services counties, recommendations have been issued on the introduction of the operating models for supporting work ability, along with a quick guide to organising services. These will support future development efforts, the organisation of work ability support services in the wellbeing services counties and related resource allocation.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s measures under the work ability programme have been part of the set of working life programmes implemented during the 2019–2023 government term. The set of working life programmes carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has consisted of the WORK2030 programme and the related research and development programme for work, health and work ability, the Mental Health at Work Programme and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health’s measures under the work ability programme.
Updated: 15.5.2023 8.38
Further information
Niina Kovanen, Senior Specialist Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Department for Communities and Functional Capacity / YTO, Functional Capacity Unit / TOK Telephone:0295163726Email Address:[email protected]
