A study that began in autumn 2026 is developing a model of the service ecosystem and recommendations on how workplaces, especially SMEs, could be supported in career guidance and continuous learning. The Työurahuoltamo model aims to help employees develop their skills at different stages of their careers, supporting the continuation of careers particularly in the mid and late stages. The study is carried out for the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment by 4FRONT together with its partners Vision Factory and Visionary Analytics, and it will be completed by the end of 2027.
The study continues from the report Konkarit töihin! (2025, Jari Lindström), which proposed the Työurahuoltamo model as one means of increasing the employment of people over 55. It also draws on the Työurahuoltamo pre-development project of autumn 2025 and its published results.
The study maps the needs, current practices and barriers of workplaces of different sizes in supporting longer careers, with a particular focus on the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. The study also looks at how employers and employees work together on career planning and skills development, including how dialogue and career discussions take place in everyday work, what role supervisors play, and how the goals of both parties can be reconciled. It examines what career guidance services are available to employers and how existing services and tools, such as Osaamispolku.fi, could be utilised. The aim is a model that adapts to the needs of different kinds of organisations and builds on existing services and structures. An international benchmark of comparable operating models in a few European countries complements the work, focusing on adults in work as the target group, career and skills development together, the link to the workplace, and the ecosystem dimension.
Although the focus is on the mid and late stages of working life, the study does not set a strict age limit, as sustainable careers are built from earlier stages onwards. Employers, employees and service providers will be involved through interviews and co-development workshops. Companies, particularly SMEs, are engaged in the study, while a steering group and interviews with stakeholder organisations ensure that the views of key actors are reflected throughout the work. The outcome will be a final report presenting the modelled ecosystem together with conclusions and recommendations to support decision-making.
For more information, please contact: Jenna Kiiskinen, jenna.kiiskinen@4front.fi
Press release on the study by Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment Further information (in Finnish)
Picture: Unplash
