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🇫🇮 Finland /Economy & Trade

Employ People by Building Long Hiking Routes

From Helsingin Sanomat · (4h ago) Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Experts are puzzled by economic slowdowns, with unemployment figures rising significantly.
  • The focus on high-productivity, export-oriented industries overlooks the large segment of the population lacking the necessary skills.
  • The author proposes developing low-productivity, labor-intensive tourism, such as long-distance hiking routes, to create jobs and generate income.

This opinion piece from Helsingin Sanomat, authored by Kullervo Ruokonen from Lahti, addresses the persistent economic challenges and unemployment in Finland. Ruokonen criticizes the prevailing economic strategy, which heavily emphasizes high-productivity, export-driven industries, arguing that it fails to account for a significant portion of the workforce lacking the specialized skills required for such sectors. This creates a disconnect, leaving many individuals unable to participate in the desired economic growth.

Tähtäin on asetettu korkean tuottavuuden tekemiseen, ja vientiin tähtäävää toimintaa pidetään usein kaiken pelastavana tekemisenä. Tämä on ristiriidassa sen kanssa, että meillä on paljon ihmisiä, joilla ei ole valmiuksia näihin korkeaa osaamista vaativiin tehtäviin.

— Kullervo RuokonenRuokonen points out the contradiction between aiming for high-productivity, export-focused activities and the reality that many people lack the skills for such demanding jobs.

The author advocates for a shift in perspective, suggesting the development of 'low-productivity' but socially beneficial work. Specifically, Ruokonen proposes investing in and creating extensive, long-distance hiking and nature tourism routes across Finland's lakes and forests. This would involve establishing amenities like lodges at regular intervals and promoting non-motorized travel, such as walking, cycling, or boating. Such initiatives, he argues, cannot be outsourced to low-wage countries and would provide employment opportunities for those currently marginalized by the focus on high-tech industries.

Ehdotan luontoon suuntautuvaa, työllistävää vaellusmatkailua. Luodaan olosuhteet pitkille reiteille järvi- ja metsämaisemiin.

— Kullervo RuokonenThe author proposes developing employment through nature-oriented hiking tourism, creating conditions for long routes in lake and forest landscapes.

From a Finnish standpoint, this article resonates with a desire to leverage the country's natural beauty for economic gain while also addressing social inclusion. Ruokonen’s proposal taps into Finland's vast natural resources, suggesting a sustainable model for job creation that complements, rather than competes with, traditional industries. The idea of creating infrastructure for nature tourism offers a unique Finnish perspective on economic development, focusing on intrinsic national assets and providing meaningful work for a broader segment of the population. It challenges the narrow definition of economic success and highlights the potential of the 'slow economy' in a country known for its technological prowess.

Nykyisellä asenteella hukataan mahdollisuuksia työllistää juuri niitä halukkaita tekijöitä, joita siirrellään tilastokäyrissä asennosta toiseen.

— Kullervo RuokonenRuokonen believes that the current attitude leads to missed opportunities for employing willing individuals who are moved between statistical categories.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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