Finland’s new Minister of Employment faces tough choices

The reshuffle was agreed when the government was formed, and the other parties are also making some ministerial changes with two years remaining of Prime Minister Orpo’s term in office.

The former Minister of Employment Arto Satonen has returned to his seat in parliament and is expected to take charge of the National Coalition Party’s policy on labour market and gender equality issues. 

Matias Marttinen is regarded as meticulous and serious-minded, but also a successful negotiator. 

He is described as an active sports enthusiast who goes roller skiing and mountain biking. He has held senior positions of trust within the 4H movement and in church social work.

A diabetic, he has actively campaigned for diabetes patients' right to complete compulsory military service in Finland’s defence forces. 

Grew up with politics

Marttinen was born in 1990 but has a lot of political experience. He began in municipal politics in his hometown of Rauma when he was 18.

After studying political science in Turku, he became an aid and advisor for ministers from the National Coalition Party and worked as a communications officer for their parliamentary group.

In 2019, he was elected an MP and after the latest election, he became the leader of the National Coalition Party’s parliamentary group.

He is considered to be loyal to Prime Minister Orpo and has held several trusted posts, including as a member of the parliamentary finance committee and with a seat on the supervisory board of the Bank of Finland. 

He was also responsible for the working group that prepared the government’s austerity measures and the parliamentary working group that implemented significant cuts to the public service broadcaster Yleisradio.

Political opponents call him a political “broiler” – raised within the ranks of the National Coalition Party with no other work experience. In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat, he does not deny his narrow background, but also considers his intimate knowledge of party politics a professional advantage. 

Economic growth through a flexible labour market 

At the press conference when he took up his new job, Marttinen promised no change to labour policy. The government programme will be implemented as written, with a more flexible labour market as a goal. 

The aim to create 100,000 new jobs during this parliamentary term also remains, even though jobs have in fact disappeared and now need to be replaced. 

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment’s May forecast, unemployment in 2025 remains high at 9.1 per cent, although the employment rate is expected to improve. 

Long-term unemployment risks becoming very high. The reduced and shortened unemployment support, along with the activity requirements, seems to be keeping Finns in the labour market.

The problem does not seem to be linked to a failed policy but to the economic downturn, which requires room for economic growth. Finland is expected to see an upturn already this year, according to Finnish projections.

A flying start for the labour market

Petteri Orpo’s government had a flying start and has already implemented major changes to labour market and social policies.

The government has two more years left and the economy remains one of its toughest challenges. It has a parliamentary majority and comprises Orpo’s National Coalition Party, the Finns Party, the Swedish People’s Party and the Christian Democrats. 

In April’s municipal elections, the centre-left parties and the Centre Party made gains, while the Finns Party suffered major losses. 

This was largely attributed to the government’s austerity measures and actions targeting the trade union movement. Among other things, it will become harder to qualify for unemployment benefits. 

The government also aims to reduce job protection, restrict the right to strike and abolish the tax deduction for union membership fees.