As Estonia still battles with an unemployment rate of over 15 percent, the capital is teeming with clubs for the unemployed to keep the jobless busy and provide much-needed encouragement.
The average club member is 45 years old and has been out of a job for 14 months. Fifty-four percent are women.
Every district in Tallinn has at least one club for the unemployed that offers training and access to free support and education events to hundreds.
Tallinn Mayor Edgar Savisaar said 1,000 people attend the clubs and every fifth member has found a job.
The next big city-run job fair will take place on February 8 at Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds. The city will offer 200 public jobs, including cleaning on buses, snow-shoveling from tram rails, and park and cemetery management. Around 10 private companies will also be present at the event.
On January 25, Tallinn will open the doors of its new unemployment bureau, which will be in charge of finding people jobs. The city recently decided national unemployment services weren't sufficient to combat joblessness within its limits.
Comments