The VeKo project promoted labour-based immigration and workplace inclusiveness in North Savo.

The VeKo project was implemented in the North Savo region. Its goal was to promote international recruitment and develop supporting solutions for integration and relocation services, workplace inclusion, and regional cooperation. The target groups were foreign professionals already living in Finland and new labor migrants arriving for work. The project identified and showcased professional skills using, for example, the AI-based SkillLab platform, matched talents with employers, and supported workplace integration while strengthening organizational inclusiveness.

The project provided comprehensive job search support and facilitated employer encounters. The Meet & Match concept, targeted specifically at individual sectors, proved particularly effective. In addition, spouses of internationally recruited employees were guided in their job searches, supported in qualification recognition processes, and helped to build professional networks.

The project was carried out in cooperation with the EURES network and employers in North Savo. Several labor migration services were successfully piloted in public–private collaboration, including arrival arrangements and orientation sessions for newcomers to Finland. The Join Finland training program was also piloted to provide employed immigrants with knowledge about Finnish society, working life, and daily life, as well as basic Finnish language skills.

As a result, North Savo adopted comprehensive models that support the employment of international professionals from both the employee’s and employer’s perspectives. The project produced practical tools such as clear roadmaps to simplify official procedures and relocation processes for those moving to the region for work.

The project was implemented between April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2023, as part of the European Union’s Structural Fund programme Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014–2020, with support from the European Social Fund (ESF).