As a result of demographic and economic trends, the labour market is constantly going through various changes. Demand for new types of skills increases while older ones become obsolete. In order to be prepared for this, governments must try their best to predict these changes through various means. In Europe, the methods for anticipating labour market changes are quite varied: some are advanced and others not so much, but all are more or less different. This study compares the (fairly advanced) labour market prediction mechanisms of Finland to those of the Baltic states. The goal of the study is to find successful Finnish practices that could be implemented in the Baltics to better anticipate labour market restructuring. Following are some of the main findings:

  • The Finnish system for anticipating labour market changes is much more comprehensive than those of the Baltic states. It involves more counterparts and is more focused on the regional level. It also uses more complex and effective methods and models.
  • Labour force anticipation in the Baltic states is quite broadly varied and not very systematic. All three approaches involve some sort of macroeconomic prognosis and sector-based studies.
  • Due to economic and social differences, The Finnish model could not be adopted by the Baltics in its entirety. The Baltic governments could, however, benefit greatly from implemeting some of its components such as the labour force barometer, closer cooperation with employers and a bigger focus on the regional level.

See also

Labour market data on Statistics Estonia