FMI to cut 16 jobs, close observation stations to save money

The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) on Monday decided to terminate 16 employment contracts and other restructuring measures to reduce cost.

The FMI completed cooperation negotiations in this regard and savings will be achieved through operational efficiencies, retirements, and the expiration of fixed-term employment contracts, said FMI in a press release.

The FMI will reduce tasks in research, technical, administrative, operational, and observation functions.

Efforts will be made to reassign employees under the threat of dismissal to other positions within FMI, in accordance with statutory obligations, potentially reducing the final number of dismissals.

Cost savings will also be achieved from streamlining operations, termination of fixed term contracts and retirements.

The observation networks maintained by FMI will be downsized, and some observation stations will be discontinued during 2025-2027.

Additionally, the marine weather forecasts produced for the Finnish Broadcasting Company’s radio channels are planned to be automated during 2025.

“It is very regrettable that we have to dismiss skilled and competent personnel. There is a strong need for our data and services in the society and in business. We want to meet this need also in the future”, said FMI’s Director General Petteri Taalas.

The co-operation negotiations, which began in October, aimed to identify ways to achieve the savings target set for FMI.

FMI faces a permanent budget cut of about 6.1 million euros by 2027. Of this amount, about 4.4 million euros must be achieved by 2025.

At the start of the negotiations, it was estimated that the reduction need would affect up to 30 employees.

FMI has about 760 employees, of which over half work in research functions.