Skateboarders in Tampere aim to help unemployed youth but face stricter work trial rules

A Tampere-based skateboarding association says tightened regulations on work trials are making it harder to support young people at risk of social exclusion, Pirkanmaa reports in a story published by Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Under previous rules, non-profit organisations like Pirkanmaan Kaarikoirat could host unemployed youth in six-month work trials. Now, following a transfer of employment services to municipal control, trials in associations are limited to one or two months—with the remaining time required in private companies offering “realistic paid employment opportunities.”

Teemu Grönlund, chair of the association, argues the change undermines support for vulnerable youth. “Two months is far too short for someone struggling with job hunting and daily life,” he said. The group previously helped young people transition into work or education, but shorter trials now force higher turnover, with double the number of participants cycling through annually.

Hilkka Koskinen, 22, found direction through the program after being unemployed post-high school. A two-month trial at the skate hall led to paid work there, sparking her interest in event production. “It’s rewarding to see people enjoy something you’ve helped create,” she said. Yet she notes the trial felt cut short: “We were just getting started.”

Tampere’s employment services defend the shift, stating trials should prioritise “real jobs” over non-profit roles, which rarely lead to permanent positions. Service director Tommi Eskonen said the goal is to move youth into the open labour market faster.

Critics like Grönlund question the logic. “This doesn’t help young people get ahead,” he said, citing a decade of success stories from the skate hall’s program.

Finland’s youth unemployment remains high, with 19.5% of 15–24-year-olds jobless as of April 2024, per Statistics Finland.

Tags: youth unemployment, social inclusion, labour policy