Coming soon for members: AI finds the jobs that are right for you
Article
Topics
- Job seeking
- Member benefit
- Unemployment
At the YTK Unemployment Fund, we are building a new service that uses artificial intelligence to find suitable jobs. The aim is to create a hassle-free service that speeds up job search and shortens unemployment periods,” says Petja Eklund, a senior expert at the fund.
Last summer, we tested how to use AI to find suitable job ads. The experiment showed that the concept works.
What kind of service is it?
“The idea was that while our members who are looking for a job apply for income support, they also receive job advertisements immediately. In practice, however, the service will work in such a way that the applicant tells us about their skills and aspirations. On the basis of these, they will receive job advertisements that are suitable for them. There are no obligations in the service, so it is up to the applicant to decide whether or not to apply for the jobs.”
What are the benefits for a YTK member?
“The service makes it easier for our members to get better targeted job advertisements.
The AI used in the service has been developed in Finland for the labour market. It has an excellent understanding of the vocabulary and meanings of Finnish working life. It can also identify implicit and latent skills matches and find a wide range of job advertisements that match the user’s skills.
The search is not restricted by title, job title or industry. Matching job advertisements can be found in places where the user would not be able to search for them.”
When is the service available and where can I find it?
“The service will be available in the coming autumn. You can find it on OmaYTK.”
How is personal data protected?
“This is a particular strength of our service. For example, no actual personal data is needed for the search and the AI is not trained with the applicants’ data. The AI is developed in the EU and we have full control over the data. For us, the solution offers transparent, explainable reasoning and makes use of high-quality data. We are building the service in compliance with GDPR and the EU AI Regulation.”
With whom is the YTK developing the service?
“Our partner in the AI solution is the Finnish company HeadAi Oy, which develops AI solutions for decision support.”
Press articles on the subject
Our job search service has also received coverage in several newspapers.
LinkedIn, for example, also searches for suitable jobs based on a user’s profile information. How does the YTK’s service differ from this?
“Our service compares the information provided by the applicant and the job advertisements based on the meaning of the words. The service is based on a network of words that link skills, needs and desires – even when expressed in different ways. In this way, jobs can be found from different sources, even if they use different words.
Instead, LinkedIn’s recommendations are based on algorithmic matching between profile data and job postings. Within LinkedIn, job postings and skills added by the applicant are standardised, allowing for direct comparison. Typically, LinkedIn contains job postings for a specific profile, so they do not cover the entire job market. In addition, there are fewer advertisements.
At the YTK, we are also concerned with issues related to data protection and the requirements of the AI Regulation.”
What are the future plans for the service?
“The service also identifies skills gaps and is therefore also suitable for planning training paths. The follow-up plan is that we can direct the user to the training that will help them to achieve their own career aspirations.
With today’s technology, it is possible to give the applicant not only a job advertisement but also a draft job application right away.”
What are the benefits of the new service in the big picture?
“We are living in a time of exciting change. As such, our new service will not create any new jobs: if there are no jobs, there are no jobs to be found. But you would think that finding a better job will lead to a longer and more productive working relationship. So in the big picture, it’s not just about finding a job faster. It is also about a longer and more productive working relationship. This will reduce unemployment in the future and stimulate the economy.”
As a member of the YTK, you can get comprehensive help with your job search right away!
We’ve put together the best bits of the job search in one convenient place for our members. In the YTK Spark you’ll find:
- job vacancies
- job search coaching
- expert advice
- practical tools
You can access Spark from OmaYTK.