Vocabulary

 

offer	dream (3)	workshop (2)
fall (2)	employee	unemployed
wood	average	seek/sought/sought
have to	employer	go/went/gone
labor	graduate	find/found/found
move	look for	fall/fell/fallen (2)
receive	right away	stand/stood/stood (2)
wooden	job market	stand on my own two feet
rent	temporary	foot/feet (2)
glad	prospect	go/went/gone
charm	benefits	pay/paid/paid
hope	move out	take/took/taken
refuse	right after	lose/lost/lost (2)
quarter	right (5)	put/put/put
blame	record (3)	disappointed
rate	generation	get/got/got
a third	shortage	position (3)
create	apply (2)	immediately
search	soar (2)	leave/left/left
owner	take part	win him over
notify	try/tried	win/won/won (2)
on to	city hall	assistance (2)
take on	point (3)	crisis/crises
expect	try her luck	hit/hit/hit (2)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

Nineteen-year-old Siri dreams of a career in the film industry. But Helsinki doesn’t offer any film workshops for unemployed young people.

Instead, job seekers learn wood-working.

Siri Selin graduated from high school nearly a year ago.

But she couldn’t go to university or find the right job.

Siri Selin, Unemployed High-School Graduate: “I moved from the country to Helsinki in the fall.

I had no prospects at home. And also I wanted to move out to stand on my own two feet. Of course I started looking for work here right away, but I didn’t find anything.

This is just a temporary solution.”

Siri receives 750 euros government assistance every month.

More than half if it goes to pay her rent. So she’s glad for the free meals offered by the workshop.

She has to take part in the program for five months or lose her unemployment benefits.

But what happens after that?

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
She’s hoping to find a summer job.

Many Finnish companies offer summer work each year, and the labor office might be able to help.

Like many other young Finns, Siri applied for unemployment benefits right after finishing school.

Nearly a quarter of those under 25 are jobless, which puts Finland below the European average.

The school system is not to blame: Finnish graduates are highly placed in international ratings.

But job centers are expecting record levels of unemployment when new graduates enter the job market this summer.

Is there any hope for this generation?

There’s a shortage of jobs nationwide.

Here in Helsinki, five thousand people of all ages are looking for work — but only a third of them will find a position.

Rita Pasi, Helsinki Job Center: “Yes the government wants to help you. There are special programs for young people planned. The city of Helsinki already created summer jobs for high school graduates last year.

Because our studies show that if young people can’t find a job immediately after leaving school, it just gets more difficult.”

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
Siri refuses to give up and goes searching for a summer job herself.

She’s hoping to get taken on here as kitchen help or as a waitress.

But the restaurant owner has never before had so many applications. And all he can pay is nine euros an hour.

Despite the low pay, Siri hopes her youthful charm will win him over.

Suleyman Aydogan, Restaurant Owner: “I can offer jobs to only a few people in the summer. It will be a few weeks before I notify them.

But of course, most of them will be disappointed.”

Another no. So it’s on to city hall.

.     .     .     .     .     .     .     .

 
The number of unemployed people in Helsinki has soared by 80%.

That’s different from the last economic crisis to hit Finland a decade ago.

And there’s no summer job for Siri here either.

Tuula Haatainen, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki: “The difference with the last economic crisis is that at the moment, it’s the young people that are hit more seriously.”

Since it’s the same story throughout Europe, Siri sees no point in trying her luck abroad.

It might be warmer to the south, but at least here, she gets her unemployment benefits.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

Questions

Doctor, Nurse, Medical Professional. Siri wants to become an accountant. True or false? What is Siri’s ambition? What is her goal?

Lawyer, Attorney, Paralegal. Was Siri born in Helsinki? Is she a local? Why did she move from the country to the city?

Teacher, Professor. Her mother and father support her financially. Yes, no, perhaps, maybe? Is there a big stigma attached to receiving welfare?

Farmer, Gardener, Rancher. Describe the program for unemployed young people.

Contractor, Construction Worker. Is Siri in a good financial position?

Architect, Engineer. Unemployment is a serious problem in Finland (in 2010 when the report was made). Is this correct or incorrect? Is this ironic?

IT Specialist, Programmer, Web Designer. If young high school and university graduates can’t get a job immediately, they can always get hired after one, two, five or ten years later. Is this correct or incorrect?

Mechanic, Machinist, Technician. What happens during the summertime? What happened in the restaurant?

Plumber, Electrician, Carpenter. Siri is going to move to Portugal and work in tourism, leisure and hospitality. Is this right or wrong?
 
 
 
Shop Keeper, Store Clerk. What advice would you give to Siri? What should she do?

Sales, Marketing, Advertising, Promotion. Is unemployment an issue, concern or problem (in your community, city, region or country)? Is there greater youth unemployment?

Manager, Business Person, Accountant. Have you ever been unemployed? What was it like? Do you know anyone who is unemployed? What is it like for them?

CEO, CFO, President. Why is there unemployment?

Electronics Technician. What might happen in the future?

Politician, Bureaucrat, Government Official. What are some solutions to unemployment?