The provision of national labour market services and the payment of labour market benefits in Estonia is organised by the  Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund through its regional departments, which are located in every county.

The provision and payment of such services and benefits is regulated by the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act. The labour market services which are suitable for a client are selected in accordance with their individual needs. The regional departments of the Unemployment Insurance Fund provide assistance and advice not only to the unemployed, but also to those thinking about changing jobs, as well as to employers.

Labour market services (see the Unemployment Insurance Fund website for further descriptions of these services):

1. Providing information about the situation on the labour market and about labour market services and benefits is the provision of information regarding the status of and changes on the labour market as well as the nature of labour market services and the conditions for receiving such services and labour market benefits. This service is designed for all clients of the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
2. Job mediation is a service in which the Unemployment Insurance Fund finds suitable positions for job-seekers and the unemployed and also assists employers by looking for workers who meet the criteria they submit. This service is free of charge to job-seekers, the unemployed and employers alike. Information about working abroad is available from the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s EURES consultants.
3. Labour market training is professional training organised for unemployed people in which they obtain or develop professional and other skills designed to make it easier for them to find a job. The training can last for up to one year. Trainees’ existing skills and knowledge, the positions which are available on the market - or are due to become available - and the requirements of potential future positions are all taken into account when selecting the most appropriate form of training. Those taking part in training lasting for more than 40 hours receive a grant as well as transport and accommodation allowances.
4. Careers counselling is designed to support people in making and implementing informed decisions relating to their career development. The service seeks to resolve issues associated with a person’s choice of jobs and professions, their professional career and finding or losing jobs. The counsellor guides them through education, training and employment options appropriate to their character, educational background and skills.
5. Work practice is a labour market service provided to people so that they can gain practical experience in the work place. Participants spend time working for an employer under the guidance of a supervisor. The maximum length of a work experience placement is four months. Those taking part receive a grant, while the supervisor is also paid a fee. Participants are also eligible to apply for transport and accommodation benefits.
6. Public work is temporary paid work which does not require professional or special training. Unemployed people can only be asked to do public work if they wish to do so. Public work is organised by local government departments, non-profit organisations and foundations who pay the participant at least the hourly rate of the minimum wage for their work.
7. Work practice is a labour market service designed to either get people used to working for the first time or to reintroduce them to work. It aims to prepare the unemployed to take part in labour market programmes and activities or take on work. Work practice normally involves simple tasks that do not require special knowledge or for which the necessary skills can be learnt in the course of the work under the guidance of a supervisor. The service is provided for a maximum of three months at any one time. Those taking part receive a grant.
8. Wage subsidy is a benefit paid to employers who hire an unemployed person. It is paid in the case of unemployed people who were released from prison in the 12 months prior to registering as unemployed and those who have been registered as unemployed for more than 12 consecutive months and have not found work during that time. The benefit may also be paid if an unemployed person between the ages of 16 and 24 is hired who has been registered as unemployed for more than six consecutive months and has not found work during this time.
9. Unemployed people who are at least 18 years of age and have completed business training, have higher or vocational education in economics or have business experience are eligible to apply for business start-up subsidy. To do this they must submit an application, a business plan and copies of documents evidencing their business training, business experience or higher/vocational education in economics to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
10. Adaptation of work premises and equipment is a service designed for unemployed people with disabilities in which an employer’s premises, working area or equipment are rendered accessible to people with disabilities so that they are able to use them in their work. 
11. The ‘special aids equipment’ service provides equipment to people with disabilities without which they would otherwise be unable to do their job. This does not include equipment required for the completion of tasks unrelated to the person’s disability or equipment which the person requires in order to be able to cope in everyday life. The technical aids provided as part of the service can be used for a period of up to three years.
12. Communication support at interviews is a service provided to unemployed people with disabilities who need help communicating with a potential employer due to their disability.
13. The ‘working with a support person’ service is provided to unemployed people with disabilities who need assistance and supervision while working due to the nature of their disability. The service is designed to increase the ability of the person to work independently and is therefore provided in decreasing amounts over time: up to 8 hours a day during the first month; up to 4 hours a day during the second month; and up to 2 hours a day during the third and fourth months, but not more than 700 hours per year. The Unemployment Insurance Fund pays employers a fee for the work of a support person.

People are able to obtain additional services and benefits to those regulated by the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act above through the European Social Fund programme “Increasing the Supply of a Qualified Labour Force 2007–2013”. If you have any questions please call the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s information line on 15501.

The  Unemployment Insurance Fund pays three different types of labour market benefits:

1. People who were engaged in work or in an activity equivalent to work for a period of least 180 days in the 12 months preceding their registration as unemployed are eligible to receive the unemployment benefit. Work and activities equivalent to work are regulated by the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act.
2. A grant is paid to unemployed people who take part in work experience, work practice or 40 hours of labour market training. The principles behind the issuing of the grant are regulated by the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act.
3. Transport and accommodation benefits are paid to unemployed people who take part in labour market training or work experience. The principles behind the issuing of these benefits are regulated by the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act.

People are able to obtain additional services and benefits to those regulated by the Labour Market Services and Benefits Act above through the European Social Fund programme “Increasing the Supply of a Qualified Labour Force 2007–2013”. If you have any questions please call the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s information line on 15501.