After news of improving employment figures on Tuesday, Helsingin Sanomat has a story on problems in the labour market. The issue, according to employers, is a labour shortage in certain sectors — and HS asks staffing agencies what needs to be done to resolve it.
With more than 400,000 registered unemployed, you'd think this might be an easy one. But Finnish employers want qualified workers, and becoming qualified takes time.
If you want to work as a cook, getting the correct papers can take two or three years. And there are other issues too. People can generally manage using just English in working life, but that's not generally possible in vocational training.
"It has to be possible to create something more flexible than the current training model," Mira Elo from Staffpoint tells HS. "Potential workers should have training that they are also able to complete."
Elo says pay isn't the main issue with restaurant work, but rather the part-time and precarious nature of the profession can put people off.
Right now, however, there are full-time and permanent positions available and unfilled in the sector.
Tampere tram traumas
The new tram system in Tampere has been an entertaining saga from the start. From gauche councillors lodging ridiculous complaints about the plans through design competitions and education campaigns teaching the provincial city how to drive and behave around trams, it's been a story that keeps on giving.
Now local paper Aamulehti has found a whole new genre of tram stories: noise complaints. On Wednesday the paper reports that residents of the upmarket Pyynikintori square in the city are annoyed about the noise from trams.
The square is currently a terminus, where trams turn around and head back eastwards, and when they leave the stop the noise is keeping residents awake — especially on warmer summer nights when they have kept their windows open.
The problem, according to the tram operating company, is the points switching trams to the other side of the road as they leave the stop. They will experiment with keeping the points open after a tram passes, rather than closing them as is currently the case to speed up departures.
Pyynikintori will get some relief when the next section of tram tracks opens, extending the network westwards. Then the problem will move on to Lentäväniemi, where the trams will turn around.
Last blast of summer
Ilta-Sanomat carries the somewhat depressing news that this weekend could be the last time this year when summery conditions prevail in Finland.
The paper recommends readers get the most out of the conditions, as the balmy 15-20 degree weather might not be seen again this year.
The southernmost parts of the country may have cloudy conditions, wind and even showers, however — so if the sun shines on you this weekend, count your blessings and enjoy it.