Perspektiiv — Regional support programme for women

Ida-Virumaa has persistently high unemployment. The programme targets economically inactive non-Estonian-speaking women aged 40–64 — the group with the lowest activity and employment rate in Estonia.

Labour-force participation and employment rate

As nationality-based differences in Estonia's labour market have persisted, non-Estonian women in particular show a lower labour-force participation and employment rate. People of other nationalities in Estonia are concentrated mainly in Harju County and Ida-Virumaa.

New challenges in Ida-Virumaa

The programme's activities are directed at Ida-Virumaa because it is a region with persistently high unemployment, where — in addition — national and international climate goals and the transition to a carbon-neutral economy are driving significant changes that bring new challenges to the regional labour market.

Active regional inclusion

The activation activities for women in Ida-Virumaa who have moved away from the labour market aim to increase their labour-market activity, which improves their coping, increases social well-being and cohesion. Delivering these activities in a targeted way in Ida-Virumaa helps these women stay actively involved in the region's changes and gives them a greater opportunity to contribute their abilities and skills on the open labour market.

Sillaloojad

In the first direction of the programme, we recruit and train 12 Sillaloojad — people who understand both employers' expectations and the cultural and linguistic context of the target group. After a 2.5-month training (May–August 2026), 6 Sillaloojad are hired on fixed-term contracts to actively support women in Ida-Virumaa who have moved away from the labour market and help them return to work step by step.

Before starting work, Sillaloojad completed training on the following topics: 1. Career counselling fundamentals; 2. Local labour market & employers; 3. Digital skills & job-search tools; 4. Culturally sensitive communication; 5. Motivational interviewing & empathy; 6. Mentoring foundations; 7. Project management basics.

Töölabor

Töölabor for employers — a development programme for Ida-Virumaa enterprises to create new jobs.

Created for Ida-Virumaa employers, Töölabor is a 5-module development programme that helps companies analyse existing work roles, redistribute tasks and create flexible forms of work in order to open up new opportunities for women in the region, including those with caring responsibilities or limited Estonian-language skills.

Up to 10 company HR managers can take part in the programme, supported by both group and individual mentoring.

Programme objective

Each company creates at least 5 new or redesigned jobs that are simplified, shared or flexibly organised.

After the programme, a job fair brings companies and job-seekers together, where employers present their newly designed jobs and recruit for them (date to be confirmed).

Programme volume: 40 academic hours

Programme period and location: Stage 1 – 25.09.–30.11.2026, Jõhvi Concert Hall. Stage 2 takes place in 2027 (dates will be announced at the beginning of the year).

Training is delivered in Estonian.

Töölabor is designed for Ida-Virumaa employers who want to create low-threshold jobs — simplified, shared or flexibly organised roles that people with limited Estonian-language skills or a long break from work can step into.