Southwest Finland is aiming for growth, but what will it take to succeed? Are new job opportunities already beginning to emerge? Is there enough skilled labour to fill them? What support can continuous learning provide? At the Working Life Forum on 18 November, we will take a closer look at the new Labour Force Barometer and discuss the region’s labour market situation. We will also highlight the results of the JOE continuous learning project and its impact on working life.
According to the Labour Force Barometer, the labour market situation in Southwest Finland varies significantly between sectors. Is there enough labour available for the region’s technology industry, and will the labour surplus in the service sectors begin to level off?
The World Economic Forum has noted that companies that invest in training respond to changes in the market faster and more effectively than their competitors. What kind of impact can we expect from continuous learning?
Time: Wednesday, 18 November, 13:00–15:30
Venue: Turku Main Library, Studio
Linnankatu 2, Turku
PROGRAMME
13:00 Opening
Esa Högblom, Senior Specialist, Regional Council of Southwest Finland & Elina Sandelin, Project Manager, City of Turku
13:05 Labour Force Barometer – is there a shortage of skilled labour in the region?
Timo Vahtonen, Working Life Coordinator, Southwest Finland Vitality Centre
13:30 Higher education institutions joining forces to strengthen continuous learning and regional vitality
Katja Mäkinen, Senior Specialist, Project Manager, Turku University of Applied Sciences
13:45 Swedish-language service pathways for continuous learning
Eija Laitinen, Project Manager, Novia University of Applied Sciences
14:00 Commentary: Employment, labour market matching and growth
Pipa Turvanen, Director of the Employment Area, City of Turku
14:15 Skills belong to everyone! – Liberal adult education as a provider of continuous learning services
Juha Kaivola, Pedagogical Principal, Linnasmäki College
14:30 Skills as a pathway to employment: Foresight, guidance and cooperation between organisations
Sanni Kiviniemi, Skills Coordinator, Novida & Susanna Saarinen, Liaison Manager, Raseko
14:45 Growth is built on skills, investment and internationalisation
Jyri Arponen, Regional Mayor, Regional Council of Southwest Finland
15:00– Closing discussion
Further information: Elina Sandelin @turku.fi
In Southwest Finland, continuous learning is being strengthened in 2024–2026 through the JOE project, co-funded by the European Union.
