Skills, leadership and competitiveness shape this fortnight’s digest. Read about how better-targeted training and intergenerational learning could support working. Southwest Finland’s companies balance improving profitability expectations against rising transport costs.
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Training Must Lead to Employment More Often
Finland simultaneously faces high unemployment and shortages of suitably skilled workers. A Chamber survey of 72 member companies in Southwest Finland calls for continuous learning to be aligned more closely with employers’ actual needs, including greater use of short, targeted courses rather than full qualifications. Respondents largely considered the public sector responsible for financing training for unemployed people and labour-shortage occupations, while employers should fund training connected with employees’ current or new internal roles.
Full article in Finnish: https://turunkauppakamari.fi/news/koulutus-on-saatava-johtamaan-nykyista-useammin-tyohon/
Learn from a Young Higher-Education Student: Jenny Bertoft and Janne Sokajärvi
The Chamber’s reverse mentoring programme pairs student mentors with experienced regional decision-makers. Jenny Bertoft, a business and financial administration student at Turku University of Applied Sciences, and Janne Sokajärvi, Managing Director of Oksasen Puutarha Oy, highlight openness, honest dialogue and coaching-oriented leadership as important elements of modern working life.
They suggest that employers can combine experience and younger perspectives through cross-generational working pairs, face-to-face interaction, good induction, regular feedback and opportunities for employees to influence their work.
Full article in Finnish: https://turunkauppakamari.fi/news/opi-nuorelta-korkeakouluopiskelijalta-jenny-bertoft-ja-janne-sokajarvi/
Companies’ Competitiveness Tested by Rising Transport Costs
In the Chamber’s September economic survey, 36 per cent of respondents in Southwest Finland said higher logistics costs had significantly weakened their competitiveness. Industrial and retail companies were the most affected, while exporters face pressure from both domestic transport and increased sea-freight costs. The regional results are based on responses from 103 Turku Chamber of Commerce member companies.
Full article in Finnish: https://turunkauppakamari.fi/news/yritysten-kilpailukyky-koetuksella-kuljetuskustannusten-nousun-vuoksi/
Survey: Corporate Profitability Has Improved Significantly Since the Spring
Business expectations in Southwest Finland strengthened across turnover, profitability, staffing and exports. Nearly 44 per cent of regional respondents expected turnover to increase during the following six months, while a similar proportion anticipated improved profitability, up from 25 per cent in the spring survey.
Full article in Finnish: https://turunkauppakamari.fi/news/kysely-yritysten-kannattavuus-kohentunut-kevaasta-huomattavasti/
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