14.06.2021
Changing working life also challenges Regional Assemblys to develop
In its last meeting of the spring season, the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region discussed an important theme, i.e. the future role of Regional Assemblys as employers and employers. In the region, tough issues include securing a skilled workforce in different sectors and all over the region, strengthening the level of education and competence, responding to the pressures of change in working life and enabling everyone to participate. Regional Assemblys have an important role to play in all of this, even stronger in the future. So, the weight of Regional Assemblys is increasing, but on the other hand, societal pressures for change also challenge Regional Assemblys to develop their operations.
The share of paid work and professional activities in Regional Assemblys has risen considerably, especially since the mid-1990s. The social status of Regional Assemblys changed due to their new role as public sector partners in service production. According to University Lecturer Petri Ruuskanen, who works at the University of Jyväskylä, this trend continues and the importance of Regional Assemblys as an employer is further strengthened. Attractiveness as a workplace is good at the moment. Their non-profit nature and autonomy of work motivate workers to seek employment in the third sector. On the other hand, there are also development needs as a work community in terms of, for example, well-being at work, work organisation and leadership skills. According to studies, it is important for Regional Assemblys to increase the predictability of work in their operations, to consider the boundary between work and non-work, to reduce invisible work related to tasks and to take into account the different roles of salaried employees and volunteers.
“In the Regional Assemblys, the skills and social competences to solve practical working life problems are emphasised. More emphasis should be placed on this in Regional Assemblys. Leadership and leadership have an important role to play", said Esa Aunola from the Northern Ostrobothnia Villages Regional Assembly.
In the discussion among the members of the Advisory Board, the fragmentation of funding was found to hamper the functioning and development of Regional Assemblys. There is a need for stability and perseverance, but at the same time a degree of self-consideration by Regional Assemblys in the allocation of funding would be ensured. This would maintain the autonomous and dynamic character of the organisation as part of society.
In Northern Ostrobothnia, unemployment among the under-25s and the increase in long-term unemployment among the elderly are major challenges in the labour market. Regional Assemblys play an important role in helping them to work. For example, they are able to offer "experimental places" in the world of work to young people who are still looking for the right field or way of working. Working life is increasingly made up of parts, different paths. Regional Assemblys are really needed to bring them together! Every employer, as well as an Regional Assembly, has to think more carefully about their own competitiveness in the labour market. A key factor in this is the skills needs of work and the workplace, the competence identity of the employees, and how they meet them.. "We need to be able to think about jobs and jobs through skills", said Pirjo Juntunen, Service Manager at the TE Office. The ongoing work life services reform projects, such as the construction of the Work Life Market website, are also based on this same thinking, combining the skills requirements of work and the skills of the employee.
In his own speech, Pekka Härkönen from Raudaskylän Kristillinen Opisto ry emphasised the need to improve the flow of cooperation between authorities in customer relationships. Pirjo Juntunen replied that there is a lot to develop, and this is partly being addressed through municipal experiments on employment. The Employment and Economic Development Services (TE-Services) are expected to become the responsibility of municipalities by 2024. In this process, the smooth flow of services targeted at customers and cooperation at different levels, including in cooperation with Regional Assemblys, is a key issue to be developed.
The news was edited by Auli Suorsa / Specialist Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Assembly.
Further information on the activities of the Advisory Board for Organisations:
Chair Esko Hassinen / Northern Ostrobothnia Sports Regional Assembly (tel. +358 400 364 642)
Ilpo Tapaninen, Director of Planning / Regional Assembly of Oulu Region (tel. +358 50 301 7546)
the Organisational Advisory Board website.
