Employment services in Tampere : From the perspective of the visitors of Tampereen A-Kilta
Virrankari, Saara (2023)
2023
Yhteiskuntatutkimuksen maisteriohjelma - Master's Programme in Social Sciences
Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2023-09-13
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202308107538
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202308107538
Tiivistelmä
Finland and the other Nordic countries are well-known for their unique welfare state model, which is characterized by high taxation and generous unemployment benefits. However, at the beginning of 2018, regardless of the warnings of experts and public protest, the government pushed through the so-called ‘activation model’, which may cause the unemployed to lose almost 5 % of their monthly benefits (Nortio, 2018). This kind of activation model can be seen as an example of an activation policy, which can be perceived to be treating the unemployed in an unfair and punishing manner, in addition to the recent cuts on welfare benefits as well as reductions in taxation, seem to be dismantling the very foundation that the social-democratic welfare state was built on (Jutila, 2011).
The aim of this thesis is to evaluate different services that are targeted towards the unemployed, based on the data that was collected by interviewing the unemployed who either worked at the community cabins of Tampereen A-Kilta as a part of their rehabilitative work and work try-out, or visited there regularly. Previous research has mainly focused on reviewing different kinds of policies that are targeted towards the unemployed from the viewpoint of the experts or the service providers, but very little is known of how the unemployed themselves view the services that are offered for them. The main research question will thus be “How do the unemployed who attend Tampereen A-Kilta perceive the services provided by the employment office, and how do these services affect their agency?”
This research project uses qualitative data, that was gathered through semi-structured interviews with the unemployed who have participated in the services provided by the labour force service centres. The interviews were carried out at A-Kilta’s community cabins in Rautaharkko, Kissanmaa and Härmälä. During the interview they were asked about their educational and work background as well as experiences with different employment services, what they liked or did not like about them, and how the services could be improved in their opinion, in addition to why they had become unemployed in the first place.
The main findings were that the unemployed should have a say in their placement, since this enforces their agency as well as their satisfaction with the service, which further on influences their well-being. In addition to this, the need for continuity arose from the interviews, since this gives the participants hope and makes it possible for them to make future plans, which also affects their future outlook as well as well-being. Future policies that are aimed towards the activation of the unemployed should thus take into account the importance of voluntary participation, in addition to which some sort of continuity should be provided for the participants, and especially for the youth as well as the long-term unemployed. Some sort of compensation is also important f.e in work try-outs, since motivation for participation could be increased through extra benefits such as a free meal or a few additional euros on top of the regular unemployment benefits.
The aim of this thesis is to evaluate different services that are targeted towards the unemployed, based on the data that was collected by interviewing the unemployed who either worked at the community cabins of Tampereen A-Kilta as a part of their rehabilitative work and work try-out, or visited there regularly. Previous research has mainly focused on reviewing different kinds of policies that are targeted towards the unemployed from the viewpoint of the experts or the service providers, but very little is known of how the unemployed themselves view the services that are offered for them. The main research question will thus be “How do the unemployed who attend Tampereen A-Kilta perceive the services provided by the employment office, and how do these services affect their agency?”
This research project uses qualitative data, that was gathered through semi-structured interviews with the unemployed who have participated in the services provided by the labour force service centres. The interviews were carried out at A-Kilta’s community cabins in Rautaharkko, Kissanmaa and Härmälä. During the interview they were asked about their educational and work background as well as experiences with different employment services, what they liked or did not like about them, and how the services could be improved in their opinion, in addition to why they had become unemployed in the first place.
The main findings were that the unemployed should have a say in their placement, since this enforces their agency as well as their satisfaction with the service, which further on influences their well-being. In addition to this, the need for continuity arose from the interviews, since this gives the participants hope and makes it possible for them to make future plans, which also affects their future outlook as well as well-being. Future policies that are aimed towards the activation of the unemployed should thus take into account the importance of voluntary participation, in addition to which some sort of continuity should be provided for the participants, and especially for the youth as well as the long-term unemployed. Some sort of compensation is also important f.e in work try-outs, since motivation for participation could be increased through extra benefits such as a free meal or a few additional euros on top of the regular unemployment benefits.