Today, we’re venturing beyond the breathtaking landscapes and serene saunas, diving into a topic that’s a little more pragmatic, yet equally essential for many: job hunting in Finland.
Whether you’re considering a move to this beautiful country for a change of scenery or for new career opportunities, understanding the job market and knowing how to navigate it is key to making your Finnish dream a reality.
Finland boasts a high standard of living, a strong social security system, and a workforce that is highly educated and multilingual, which is a magnet for professionals across the globe. However, finding a job here can be a challenge, especially if you don’t speak Finnish or Swedish, the country’s official languages. But fret not! In this post, we’ll go through the requirements for working in Finland, and we’ll share some tips for a successful job search.
Whether you’re a tech guru, a creative professional, or venturing into the thriving start-up scene, prepare your CV and get ready to embrace the unique work culture of Finland. Let’s get started!
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How to find a job in Finland?
If you would like to work in Finland, you should know that companies in the Nordic country are increasingly predisposed to hiring employees from other countries.
The main barrier to finding a job in Finland is the language since in many job offers speaking Finnish is a requirement. However, it is possible to find some in which you will only need English.
A large number of international companies are located in Finland and their working language is English, so it is a good idea to start your job search at one of these companies.
Nokia, Finnair or Rovio are some examples of Finnish companies where you could find a job where only English is required. In addition, others such as Microsoft, Xiaomi or Airbus have large facilities in the country and also hire foreign employees.
The job search does not end here, as some smaller companies and startups also have an international focus and accept workers who do not speak Finnish. So the above examples are just a starting point.
Another fact to take into account is that in the coming decades the hiring of foreign employees will become a necessity for Finnish companies, since the workforce is not very abundant, especially in certain sectors, and this situation will worsen very soon when people born in the 1950s during the postwar baby boom begin to retire.
As we have already said, there are some sectors in which there is a greater shortage of labour and, therefore, in which it is much easier to access a job. Therefore, you will not have much difficulty finding a job in sectors such as healthcare or telecommunications.
Employment Portals
In addition to visiting the web pages of companies in which you are interested in working to see if they have any open vacancies, it is interesting to use different job portals that are widely used by Finnish companies to find new employees.
The two main job search web portals are Indeed and Monster. These search engines are widely used in many countries and Finland is no exception.
Besides, other national portals also have an interesting number of offers. Among these stands out TE-palvelut, the website of the employment office of the Ministry of Labor and Economy of Finland.
Finally, we must not forget other platforms such as LinkedIn, or even Facebook groups, in which many job offers are also published.
What is the average salary in Finland?
The average salary in Finland was 45,271 euros per year in 2019, which translates to 3,773 euros per month if we divide it into 12 payments. In 2018 this was 44,481, so there has been an increase of 1.78% between the two years.
Regarding unemployment, there has been an increase between 2019 and 2020, going from 6.6% to an unemployment rate of 8.4% in 2020.
Work visa
Finland is one of the member countries of the European Union and also belongs to the Schengen area, so it allows the free movement of people between the countries belonging to the area. For this reason, you can travel and work in Finland without having to apply for a work visa as long as you belong to a European country.
Otherwise, you will have to check the requirements to work in Finland. Although these may vary depending on your country of origin, most people will need a residence permit to find a job in Finland.
Visit the Finnish Immigration Service website to find out the specific conditions that you must meet in order to work in the Nordic country.
Finland Minimum Wage
Finland, like the rest of the Nordic countries, does not have a mandatory minimum wage. All labour sectors have collective agreements in which a minimum wage is established. Thus, the minimum wage is not set in a general way but it is different depending on the sector in which you are.
The wages specified in these agreements apply equally to all workers, including those who work for international companies and are temporarily in Finland.
Most demanded professions in Finland
The possibility of finding a job in Finland depends very much on the professional sector you belong to and the type of job you are looking for. Some professions are more in demand in Finland than others because there is a greater shortage of employees.
Here are the most sought-after jobs in Finland in recent years:
- Nursing professionals
- Health care assistants
- Social workers
- General practitioners
- Specialist doctors
- Early childhood educators
- Audiologists and speech therapists
- Dentists
- Psychologists
- Personal home carers
- Cleaners
- Welders and flame cutters
- Contact centre salespersons
As you can see, many of the most sought-after jobs in Finland are in the health sector, with doctors and nurses being the most popular, as well as in the education sector.
Minimum age for employment in Finland
In Finland, the minimum age for employment is 15 years. In addition, there are some restrictions on the types of work that 15-17 year olds can do. For example, they may not work during school hours, more than eight hours a day or in hazardous conditions. Children under the age of 18 are also entitled to certain protections under Finnish law, such as limited working hours and the obligation to take breaks during shift work.
For those over 18, there are generally no specific legal restrictions on the types of work they can do in Finland. However, companies must comply with the relevant labour legislation and collective agreements regulating issues such as working hours, overtime pay and holiday entitlement.
It should also be noted that some sectors may have specific requirements or qualifications for certain types of work. For example, some jobs in health or education may require a specific degree or certification. Employers may also have their own requirements for job applicants, such as previous work experience or language skills.
Is it possible to work in Finland without knowing the language?
Although it is possible to work in Finland without knowing the language, it may be more difficult to find employment opportunities. Finnish is the official language of Finland, and many companies may require job applicants to have at least a basic knowledge of Finnish in order to communicate with customers or colleagues.
That said, there are some sectors that may have a higher demand for workers who speak other languages, such as tourism, hospitality or international business. In these sectors, employers may value language skills in addition to other qualifications and experience.
It is also important to note that learning Finnish can be beneficial for anyone planning to live and work in Finland for a long period of time, as it can facilitate everyday life, communication with local residents and integration into Finnish society.
Are you planning to look for a job in Finland? Let us know in the comments. You can also share this article on social networks using the icons that you will find just below if you found it interesting and it has helped you.