Yes. Currently, foreign workers are playing a major role in addressing Finland’s labour shortage, and the number of international talents is growing steadily.
Finland’s labour market
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Looking for information on the labour market in Finland? Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions.
Krediter: N2 Albiino / Helsinki Partners
Finland’s vibrant start-up culture is responsible for global success stories such as Angry Birds, Supercell, and Wolt.
What is the overall labour market like?
The population of Finland is roughly 5.5 million. With the Baby Boomer generation at or near retirement age, the country offers plenty of opportunities for foreign professionals. In fact, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment recently predicted that employment in Finland will continue to improve through 2024 – despite recent uncertainty created by Russia’s war on Ukraine. The outlook on new jobs and employment is similarly good. The unemployment rate is expected to fall to 6.4% in 2022 then drop to 5.9% by 2024.
Do I need a residence permit?
As a rule of thumb, yes. If you plan to work or start a business in Finland, you will usually need a residence permit. Your residence permit depends on the type of work you do. Visit the residence permit section to access the application finder and learn about fast-track service.
Which jobs are in-demand in Finland?
If you’re a skilled worker in tech, you’re in luck – international talent in this field is highly sought after and many companies offer extra perks and benefits to attract top candidates.
But tech isn’t the only industry that’s hiring. Companies in bioeconomy, health technology, electronics, cybersecurity, manufacturing, construction, and many other fields heavily recruit talent from abroad, and currently, there is also a shortage of healthcare workers.
Krediter: Keksi Agency / Helsinki Partners
Currently, Finnish innovators are working with healthcare technology that supports post-pandemic recovery.
What type of salary can I expect?
According to Statistics Finland’s 2022 data, the median monthly income for all full-time wage-earning and salaried workers was 3,411 euros. With that said, factors such as industry, role, and location will affect your compensation.
| Occupation | Yearly salary estimate (in EUR) |
|---|---|
| System Development Manager | 48 625 |
| Senior Programmer | 55 223 |
| Senior Software Development Engineer | 63 618 |
| Software Development Engineer | 51 622 |
| Software Development Manager | 67 859 |
| Automotive Production Assembler | 24 790 |
| Test Automation Engineer | 51 622 |
| Robotics Engineer | 51 622 |
| IT Security Specialist | 67 859 |
| Security Engineer | 46 417 |
| Welder | 40 746 |
| Civil engineer | 46 680 |
| Video Game Designer | 46 417 |
| Engineer | 45 689 |
What kind of taxes will I pay?
In Finland, income taxes are progressive. That means the more money you earn, the more taxes you’ll pay. Read more about how the system works – and what you’ll get in return – on the taxes and personal finances page.
Can I join a union in Finland?
Yes – Finland is characterised by its high degree of union memberships. Both employees and employers have unions, and agreements between them set the standard for things like wages and working hours.
Where are jobs located in Finland?
Job openings are available across the country. The metropolitan region consisting of Espoo, Helsinki, and Vantaa is the biggest hub. These cities sit side-by-side and have a shared public transportation network.
Other hubs include the fast-growing cities of Tampere, Turku, Lappeenranta, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Lahti, Pori, Vaasa, and Rovaniemi. To learn more about some of these places and the opportunities they have to offer, please visit the cities and municipalities section.
Krediter: Julia Kivelä / Finnish Lakeland /Jyväskylä Region
All corners of Finland offer plenty of beauty and culture to soak up.
Krediter: Visit Vaasa
Welcome to a winter wonderland! There are many fun and unique ways to make the most of Finland’s cold-weather months.
Do I need to speak the local language?
It’s usually not a must. Many multinational firms, along with many ICT and gaming companies, are incredibly diverse and communicate entirely in English. Currently, nine out of 10 Finns speak English.
In some cases, though, you might consider taking a language course that focuses on building vocabulary for your specific workplace. And besides benefitting your career, learning the local language is a great way to make friends and get a feel for a country’s culture.
Also, did you know that Swedish is an official language in Finland? Approximately 5% of Finns speak Swedish as their first language. While most native Swedish speakers live on Finland’s western and southern coasts, you can hear the language throughout the country. Most Finns speak at least a bit of both and will switch languages on the fly, depending on who’s in the room.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Search job openings in Finland.
Is proficiency in Finnish an advantage in the job market?
Proficiency in the Finnish language enhances employment opportunities, as some job duties require mastery of the local language. Moreover, speaking the local language facilitates faster integration into professional networks and Finnish society, which is beneficial for career development.
Kielibuusti offers a variety of resources, including self-study materials, videos, a blog, and tips for language learning at work.
Where to find an open job?
Online job portals are a great resource for finding open jobs in Finland. Work in Finland jobsite is one such portal that lists current job openings across various industries. If you don't find any open jobs suitable for you, don't worry! Check out our article Discovering Finland's Hidden Job Market for tips and tricks on how to uncover hidden job opportunities.
Or you can let the open jobs find you. Make a job applicant profile on Job Market Finland to get job postings that are right for you.
Is recruitment free of charge for the job seeker?
Recruitment for work in Finland is always free of charge for you as the employee, meaning no recruitment fees are involved in the Finnish recruitment process.
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