The TAIMI project builds an equal working life – a six-year consortium project seeks solutions to recruitment and skill challenges

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing skill requirements, the population is aging, and the labor shortage is deepening. Meanwhile, the potential of international experts often remains unused in Finland. These challenges in working life are addressed by the six-year TAIMI project funded by the Strategic Research Council, and implemented by a broad consortium: Aalto University, Hanken School of Economics, University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, LUT University, and VTT.

The project's principal investigator (PI) is Niina Nurmi (Aalto University). Additionally, the project includes the following work package leaders (PI): Nathan Lillie (University of Jyväskylä), Edemilson Paraná (LUT University), Markku Sippola (University of Helsinki), Rebecca Piekkari (Aalto University), Päivi Heikkilä (VTT), and Hertta Vuorenmaa (Hanken School of Economics).

The goal of the TAIMI project is to develop research-based solutions for the transformation in working life. The key themes are strengthening work-life skills, improving skill recognition, and promoting equality and inclusion in Finnish working life. The project examines particularly how diversity, equality, and inclusion skills (DEI) can be understood and taught as learnable work-life skills, complementing technological expertise and supporting smooth cooperation in diverse workplace communities.

The project also utilizes AI-based tools to support fair recruitment, enhance visibility of skills, and improve the functionality of multicultural teams. The research targets several sectors, including IT, care, transport, and industrial sectors, where both labor shortage and technological transformation are significant. The multidisciplinary approach combines perspectives from business, computer science, psychology, sociology, and social policy.

The project's results are expected to provide solutions to organizations' practical needs, policy recommendations to support decision-making, and new learning content to develop work-life skills.

A broad cooperation network supports the project's impact

TAIMI is implemented in close collaboration with cities, welfare regions, companies, and organizations. Partners include Helsinki City, Rovio, Vaisala, Valmet Automotive, Startup Refugees, Aalto EE, Hanken SSE, HY+, several labor market organizations, along with a range of other public and private entities. Cooperation enables the application of research knowledge to practice, implementation of pilots, and widespread adoption of solutions.

The Strategic Research Council under the Academy of Finland has granted a total of 29 million euros for research initiatives concerning economic growth and the future of working life. TAIMI is one of the ten projects that received funding.