Estonia funds program to help women re-enter workforce
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The Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs launched an €800,000 program in Ida‑Virumaa, a county in Estonia, to help women aged 40 to 64 re-enter the labor market.
The program will dedicate over €615,000 to personnel costs, including salaries for a project manager, a coordinator, and six full-time counselors who will provide intensive one-on-one support.
Kristi Melesk, head of the employment department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, explained the high personnel costs are necessary because the program is new and requires significant individual counseling. The program targets women in Ida‑Virumaa who do not speak Estonian and have been away from the workforce for a long time. Organizers aim to reach 450 women, helping 45 of them secure employment.
Counselors will focus on rebuilding participants’ confidence, assisting with CV writing, and connecting them with potential employers in the region. The European Social Fund Plus will cover 70 percent of the program’s costs, with Estonia providing the remaining 30 percent. Melesk stated the program is designed to reach individuals who do not typically seek help from the Unemployment Insurance Fund, focusing on those who have stopped actively searching for work and may be unaware of available opportunities.
