New Labour Market Group leader Ain Käpp: Labour market issues concern us all

Ain Käpp, head of the Central Confederation of Employers’ Labour Market Working Group and councillor. Photo: private collection

“My passion is hospitality, a field in which I have been active for 30 years. Working in hotels every day has given me a deep understanding of the importance of the workforce – both finding talent and retaining and developing it,” says Ain Käpp, head of the Employers’ Confederation’s labour market working group and council member.

The Confederation of Estonian Employers has six sectoral working groups: the economic environment and taxes, the labour market, health, education, innovation, and the environment and responsible business. The working groups are a meeting and discussion place for the members of the Employers’ Confederation to formulate positions and proposals to better protect the interests of businesses and develop the business environment.

The labour market working group is chaired by Ain Käpp, member of the board of the Estonian Hotel and Restaurant Association and chairman of the management board of Palace Hotel Tallinn, A Member of Radisson Individuals and Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn.

“As the head of the Labour Market Group, I see my role as contributing to the development of balanced labour policies that support both the competitiveness of employers and the development opportunities of employees,” says Käpp. “Our focus is on flexible forms of work, opportunities for foreign labour and making the education system more responsive to labour market needs.” The aim is to create solutions that contribute to strengthening the entire Estonian economy,” explains Käpp.

Labour Market Taskforce focus themes in 2025

We are working to get people with the right skills into the labour market. As the economy improves, the shortage of skilled workers will once again become the most pressing issue.

We stand for an increase in the quota for foreign workers of at least 0.1% + 0.1%.
We will work with universities and public authorities to agree on recruitment in target countries and a recruitment pathway to engage talent.
We will stand up for the legalisation of flexible working time and reasonable rest and speak up for the transposition of the Platform Work Directive.
We will closely monitor and, where necessary, intervene in the country’s education reforms in general education, vocational education and training and higher education.
We will stand up for better matching of the education system with the needs of the labour market as we change the education system.
We urge the country to increase the share and quality of technology education
Through the “Best Apprenticeship” competition, we encourage employers to develop systematic and long-term apprenticeship programmes, highlighting the benefits and opportunities of involving apprentices and the value they bring to businesses.

Strong and effective cooperation is the key to success

Through the work of the working groups, it is possible to have a say, to steer and to create changes that serve the interests of businesses and society as a whole.

This is why Käpp also calls on other employers to actively contribute to labour market issues: “Labour market issues concern us all, regardless of which sector we come from. A strong voice for employers comes from working together – every experience and perspective counts. The more employers are willing to share their ideas and experience, the more effectively and meaningfully we can represent employers’ interests.”

The working group is co-ordinated by Piia Zimmermann, adviser to the Confederation of Employers. If you are a member of the Confederation of Finnish Employers and would like to have your say and contribute to the activities of the Labour Market Working Group, please let the coordinator of the Working Group know and write to piia(at)employers.ee.