Investing in Youth: Finland

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Executive summary
	Key policy recommendations
Assessment and recommendations
	How do Finnish youth fare in the labour market?
	Who are NEETs in Finland, and what are the risk factors?
	Improving the transition from school to work
		Raising completion rates in upper secondary education
		Easing the transition from upper secondary to tertiary education
		Improving the pathway from vocational education to employment
	Strengthening support for young people
		Responding to the fragmentation of the benefit system
		Strengthening the integration of services
		Using the government reform as a vehicle to address fragmentation and activation challenges
Chapter 1.  Youth employment and education in Finland
	1.1. Introduction
	1.2. The education and employment performance of Finnish youth
		1.2.1. The economic context
		1.2.2. Labour market outcomes of young Finns
		1.2.3. Educational attainment of Finnish youth
	1.3. Finnish youth not in employment, education or training
		1.3.1. NEET rates
		1.3.2. Characteristics of NEETs
		1.3.3. Well-being of NEETs
		1.3.4. Duration of NEET status
	1.4. Wrap-up
	References
Chapter 2.  Improving the transition from school to work in Finland
	Introduction
	2.1. Raising school completion rates in upper secondary education
		2.1.1. Preventing school dropout
			Major reform in vocational upper secondary education
			Closing the gap between students’ expectations and curriculum
			Ensuring sufficient support for students with additional needs
			Raising compulsory schooling age
		2.1.2. Reaching out early school leavers
			Outreach services to reconnect youth with education or employment
			Youth workshops for on-the-job training and career guidance
			Integrated services for youth at risk of social exclusion
			Comprehensive support for young people excluded from compulsory military service
			Digital support services to complement face-to-face services
	2.2. Easing the transition from upper secondary to tertiary education
		2.2.1. Reforming the highly selective tertiary education admission system
		2.2.2. Making the reform of student financial aid work
		2.2.3. Providing vocational students with sufficient general training
		2.2.4. Widening the options for postsecondary vocational education
	2.3. Speeding up labour market entry
		2.3.1. Promoting collaboration between vocational education and employers
		2.3.2. Fastening completion time in tertiary education
		2.3.3. Devoting attention to mental illness in tertiary education
	Round-up and recommendations
		Raising completion rates in upper secondary education
		Easing the transition from upper secondary to tertiary education
		Improving the pathway from vocational education to employment
	Notes
	References
Chapter 3.  Towards integrated services and integrated benefits for young people in Finland
	Introduction
	3.1. A comprehensive but fragmented income support system
		3.1.1. Unemployment insurance for young people with work history
		3.1.2. Minimum-income benefits for youth with low incomes
		3.1.3. Income support for youth with reduced work capacity
	3.2. Benefit receipt among youth is high and benefit traps are significant
		3.2.1. Does the Finnish benefit system target vulnerable youth?
		3.2.2. Does the Finnish system create benefit traps?
		Is long-term benefit receipt a concern in Finland?
	3.3. Youth poverty is relatively high despite a generous benefit system
	3.4. Challenges for an easily accessible and generous benefit system
	3.5. Connecting benefits and employment services
		3.5.1. Activation could be strengthened in the Finnish system
		3.5.2. The impact of social assistance reform remains to be seen
		3.5.3. A multitude of services and initiatives but they still operate in isolation
	3.6. Unlocking the potential of the Youth Guarantee
		3.6.1. Youth guarantee performance outcomes are in line with those elsewhere
		3.6.2. The effectiveness of active labour market programmes is limited
		3.6.3. Strengthening the powers of the Ohjaamo centres
	3.7. Making the most of the forthcoming regional government reform
		3.7.1. The SOTE reform in brief
		3.7.2. Criticism to the SOTE reform plans
		3.7.3. Repercussions of the SOTE reform for youth and youth services
		3.7.4. Aligning the SOTE reform with benefit reforms
	Round up and recommendations
		Responding to the fragmentation of the benefit system
		Strengthening the provision of integrated services
		Using the government reform as a vehicle to address remaining challenges
	Notes
	References