Unemployment
If you become unemployed or are laid off, act quickly so that you don’t lose your right to unemployment benefits and can find a new job as quickly as possible. This page explains how to register as a jobseeker, how to apply for unemployment benefits, and your obligations as an unemployed person.
On this page, you’ll find answers to questions such as:
Register as a jobseeker in Job Market Finland’s e-service no later than your first day of unemployment or layoff. Fill in the information carefully and keep your job search active throughout your unemployment in order to receive unemployment benefits. Read more.
You must apply for unemployment benefits yourself, either from your own unemployment fund or from Kela, approximately two weeks after becoming unemployed. If you belong to an unemployment fund, you can receive earnings-related daily allowance, which is usually higher than the allowance paid by Kela. Read more.
You must actively seek work and follow the instructions of the employment authority. If you refuse a job or training without a valid reason, you may lose your unemployment benefits for a certain period. Read more.
If you are between 18 and 24 years old and have no vocational training, you need to apply for training in order to receive unemployment benefits. If you don’t apply or start studies, you will not receive unemployment benefits until you meet certain additional conditions. Read more.
Do as follows
What to do when your work ends or you’re laid off, and you become unemployed?
Register electronically
Register as a jobseeker in the e-Services section of Job Market Finland no later than your first day of layoff or unemployment. Fill in the registration form carefully.
Register in another way
If you cannot use the e-service, you can fill in the form at the employment services office in your municipality or region, or call the phone service +358 295 020 701, Mon–Fri, 9–15.
Apply for jobs
Actively seek work and take advantage of the services offered by the employment area.
Be careful
Make sure that you engage in all the job-seeking activities required by the authority in order to maintain your entitlement to unemployment benefits.
Apply for unemployment benefits
After two weeks, apply for unemployment benefits electronically from your own unemployment fund or Kela.
Keep your job search active
Remember to keep your job search active throughout your unemployment period.
Unemployment benefits
If your employment ends and you become unemployed, you are entitled to unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits mean financial support that you receive during your unemployment. You can also get unemployment benefits during layoffs. You can only receive unemployment benefits if you have applied for them.
Unemployment benefits are also referred to as unemployment security. Forms of unemployment security are earnings-related daily allowance, basic unemployment allowance and labour market support. As of 1 May 2026, the basic daily allowance and labour market subsidy paid by Kela will be abolished and replaced by a general subsidy.
Read more about the conditions for receiving earnings-related unemployment allowance and its duration
Federation of Unemployment Funds in Finland
Obligation to seek employment
When you receive unemployment benefits, you are obligated to actively seek employment. You can lose your unemployment benefits for a fixed period, if:
- you receive a job offer from the employment authority and refuse to apply for the job without a good reason
- you refuse the training provided by the employment authority without a good reason.
If you do paid work during your unemployment, report it to your unemployment fund or Kela, or the place that pays your unemployment benefits. The pay you receive from that work is taken into account in the payment of your unemployment benefits.
Read more
Web pages of your own unemployment fund
Federation of Unemployment Funds in Finland
Kela
Are you under 25 and unemployed?
If you are between 18 and 24 years of age, you can receive unemployment benefits, if:
- you have vocational training, and
- you have not refused work or training offered to you.
If you don’t have any vocational training, you must apply for vocational training starting in the autumn or admission to a university or a university of applied sciences no later than 31 August. You must apply to at least two educational institutions. You can also apply to upper secondary school if you have only completed comprehensive school.
If you don’t apply for or start an educational or training programme, you won’t get unemployment benefits. You can only receive unemployment benefits after doing the following for 21 weeks (approximately 5 months):
- worked
- worked as an entrepreneur
- studied or
- participated in employment promotion services.
If you apply for a general allowance from Kela, Kela will not start paying it to you until after a waiting period of approximately 5 months, i.e. 21 weeks, if you don’t have vocational training. This waiting period also applies to you if you have applied for training or started training.
Are you an immigrant and unemployed?
Read more in the following section: Guide for employees relocating to Finland > Termination of employment and residence permit based on employment.