Increasing spending on research, development and innovation so that it would be equal to four percent of our GDP is necessary for the sustainable growth and development of Finland. Achieving this goal requires both direct public investment in RDI activities and a supportive and reliable operating environment for businesses. This is supported by a business subsidy reform, in which the remaining subsidies are directed to future-oriented RDI activities with incentive effect.

Our enormous clean energy potential gives Finland an advantage in the green transition. This potential leads to new industry, the development of which should be deliberately steered towards high value-added applications. Establishing high value-added industry in Finland is possible, provided that we meet the competence needs and invest adequately in the development of technologies. All this can be achieved through a strategic approach to clean industry. 

Finland has the world’s most ambitious goals when it comes to promoting a circular economy. Thanks to these goals and its high expertise, Finland has excellent potential to become a global pioneer in circular economy and, through this, to generate new, sustainable growth and exports while preventing biodiversity loss.

Tax progression in Finland is too steep for the country's competitiveness. The marginal tax rate of most TEK members rises to over 50 percent. Basically, the taxation for all income groups should be reduced by the same percentage, 0.5 percentage points per year, between 2023 and 2027. The aim is a cost-neutral tax reform, where the reduction in tax revenue would be partly offset by the employment gains that tax cuts have been shown to generate. In addition, environmental and emissions taxes should be increased. Consumption taxes may also be raised if necessary.

The participation of households in capital investment activities should be made possible through, for example, funds that would allow households, not just professional investors, to participate in financing promising early-stage companies.  The funds should be implemented in such a way that citizens could make investments through a share savings account. 

Digitalization is a major force that is reforming our society and economy. It creates opportunities for better services, more efficient production, and a better understanding of the world. We need to invest boldly in digital expertise across all levels of society, ensure digital equality, and improve the availability and utilization of data. 

The Vision for Higher Education and Research in Finland 2030 included a goal where 50 percent of the age group would have a higher education degree in Finland by 2030. Many fields need more workers, and especially the growth of university education in technology is critical for the RDI goal and businesses.

The quickest and most cost-effective way to increase the number of graduates is to focus on the places where the infrastructure already exists. The field of technology should not be scattered across any more locations either. At the same time, increasing admission quotas should be resourced fully by increasing funding for higher education institutions.

Simply increasing student admissions in higher education will not solve the talent shortage, but we also need to improve the completion rate of education. Academic burnout and various mental health problems are some of the biggest reasons for a slower study pace. Study progress can be improved by allowing students flexible study options, guidance counselling, adequate support services, and high-quality teaching.

It is vital for Finland to have all working-aged people pursue continuous learning throughout their careers. Less-educated workers urgently need to upgrade their skills, but the more highly educated professionals also need to be able to keep their skills and knowledge current. Establishing a skills account for every citizen will encourage everyone to take part in training and help create a healthier continuing education market in Finland.

Skills in mathematics and natural sciences form the basis for top Finnish expertise. These skills rest on a solid basis of good literacy skills and a learning-conducive environment. High-quality early childhood education, equal opportunities to enjoy hobbies, and good guidance counselling help all children and young people to reach their fullest potential. Continuing education for teachers and guidance counsellors plays a key role in pursuing these goals. 

Finland needs more education and employment-based immigration. Many growing industries are suffering from a lack of skilled labor. We want to build a Finland where high-growth companies can grow and succeed. At the same time, it is important to ensure fair working conditions and make sure that international workers cannot be exploited in the Finnish labor market.

The Sustainable Growth Programme for Finland states that the number of international degree students in Finland should be tripled by 2032. This number is moderate compared to the anticipated labor demand, so it is more like a minimum target.

At the same time, we must also help international degree students find high-quality employment in Finland. There is a shortage of skilled workers in Finland, but at the same time, it is difficult for many skilled international students to find a job after graduation. If a student from outside the EU does their master’s thesis directly for an employer, it approximately quadruples their likelihood of finding high-quality employment.

Local bargaining is also made possible for unorganized companies in terms of generally applicable agreements. We must also make sure that any disputes that may arise over bargaining can be addressed effectively, for example by giving employee organizations the right to bring action.

As work life is changing, we must also make changes to the unemployment security system to better account for different forms of working, encourage full and part-time self-employment, and enable flexible transitions from entrepreneur to wage earner and vice versa. We need to improve the unemployment security of people working in different roles by making it possible to insure yourself with both a wage earners’ and an entrepreneurs’ unemployment fund at the same time.

In addition to unemployment security, entrepreneurs also need employment security. Many sole entrepreneurs have considered hiring an employee, but have not done so, because they feel it is expensive and risky. We need to lower this risk with a recruitment subsidy that would go beyond just supporting the hiring of the company’s first employee.

Finnish work life is constantly becoming more equal. However, the pace of development is not enough, but we need to work actively on behalf of equality. We need to implement a broad program of measures to reduce gender bias in the labor market, impose sanctions on breaches and negligence of equality, take minorities into consideration, and eradicate harassment and discrimination in the workplace, among other things.

Pay transparency paves way for equality and fairness in the workplace. Legislation should be reformed so that pay transparency would be obligatory for all employers, and individuals and employee representatives would have sufficient rights to information. The transparency of wage systems in the workplace should also be increased.

In recent years, mental health issues have become one of the most common reasons for retiring on a disability pension. Mental health problems can be addressed better by connecting individuals to the help they need as quickly as possible. One cost-effective solution is to provide more low-threshold services and adopt brief psychosocial interventions more extensively across the different service channels of the health care system.