Threatened strikes, which were set to begin at Finland’s airports on yesterday morning, have been averted in a last-minute deal between the two sides. Read the full story

One of the victims of Anders Behring Breivik’s bomb attack and gun massacre in Norway on Friday has been described as one of the most promising and popular young politicians Norway had produced for many years. Read the full story

Take away owners have defended their low prices after the Finnish Hospitality Association warned that those selling pizzas for less than six euros would most likely be employing illegal and underpaid workers. Read the full story

A leading research institute has claimed that foreigners from outside the Nordic region must be encouraged to join Denmark’s workforce. Read the full story

Today is Mayday – international labour day. The event is being celebrated with marches, demonstrations and family entertainment all over Iceland.

In Reykjavik a large coalition of unions and associations have come together to host a rally starting at 13.00 at Hlemmur and moving down to Austurvollur, Parliament Square. Once at the square, a series of speeches begins at 14.10, and due to end at 15.00.

Two brass bands and the popular rock band Hjaltalin are also taking part.

After the speeches, most big labour unions and political parties will be offering coffee and cakes to the public and some of the political parties are taking the opportunity to formally open their election offices today for the upcoming local elections. Today is an official flag day in Iceland.

Fewer unemployed Icelanders are now looking for work overseas, according to a poll conducted by Capacent for the Confederation of Icelandic Labour. Read the full story

Norway’s left-leaning government coalition has won the country’s general election by a narrow margin. Read the full story

Finnair, the national carrier of Finland, has announced plans to lay off nearly 1,700 cabin crew in a bid to cut costs and maintain profitability. Airline officials told the AP news service that the layoffs will happen in April and May 2009, but will only be temporary and staggered to last about two weeks each. Read the full story

The unemployment rate in Iceland continues to rise and shows no immediate sign of reaching a peak. The official unemployment rate in the country increased to 3.3 percent in November, but was 1.9 percent in October. Read the full story

According to a government expert, Finland requires an additional 100,000 immigrants over the next 20 years in order to fill a severe gap in the labour force.

Rauno Vanhanen, who heads Finland’s employment policy planning programme made the predictions in Kaleva, a provincial daily newspaper earlier this week.

He believes that Finland will need more and more labourers in the future. Some of these labourers may be found among Finnish citizens who are currently unemployed or who are not part of the current workforce.

Including those Finnish labourers, Mr. Vanhanen predicts that a total of 400,000 workers will be required if the country wishes to avoid encountering a shortage of labour in the future.

He said: “This is a very tough challenge and the figures are high. Nevertheless we will make it if the working life of all Finns is extended from its beginning, to its end and in the middle. In addition we must be more productive as well.”

In 2007, Statistics Finland estimated that the employment rate in the country was at 71.5 per cent. Not only is Mr. Vanhanen urging many of those unemployed to join the workforce, but he is also calling upon those currently employed to increase their productivity and work later, putting off retirement until their later years.