Finland : Job market

What are my chances of getting a job?

The outlook for UK graduates securing jobs in Finland is positive. The post-war baby-boom generations are reaching retirement and Finland is welcoming people from abroad to fill the gaps.

• Typical problems encountered: unemployment in Finland is slightly higher than in the UK. Competition from home graduates may be high due to the fact that many Finnish graduates are often fluent in several languages, including English, Swedish, German, French and Spanish.
• How to improve your chances: relevant work experience is usually required and graduates are expected to have professional experience before being hired for more advanced jobs. It may be necessary to gain this experience before moving to Finland. Employees are also expected to be constantly updating their skills and knowledge and so evidence of this may also be helpful.
• Language requirements: there are very few jobs where it will be possible to work without any knowledge of the Finnish language. Swedish is also an official language, spoken by a minority (around 6%). Requirements vary depending on how far from Helsinki you are and the type of job you are looking for. As English is often the language of business for companies in the international market, it may mean that English language skills are required, but a working knowledge of Finnish is still extremely important. Finnish can be studied in a variety of locations including adult education centres, general upper secondary schools for adults or open universities. 

Where can I work?

• Major industries: electronics, metal, wood and paper industries, agriculture and forestry, engineering and manufacturing.
• Recent growth areas: the private services sector.
• Industries in decline: manufacturing.
• Shortage occupations: healthcare and social work as well as in services that support public and business life. Experts in the metal industry are also needed.
• Major companies: Kesko (wholesale retail chain), Metsaliitto (forest industry), Neste Oil, Nokia (electronics), Outokumpu (metallurgy), Sampo (finance and investment), SOK (wholesale retail chain), Stora Enso (forest industry), Tamro (pharmaceutical wholesaling), UPM (forest industry).
• Search for more companies: Finnfacts has a list of Finnish companies searchable by industry sector. Kompass is a worldwide business directory searchable by country and product/service. The Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland publishes the Contact Finland Directory, which includes information on Finnish companies. You might also find Wikipedia - List of Companies of Finland useful.
• Major cities: Helsinki (capital and largest), Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa, Turku, Oulu.

What’s it like working in Finland?

• Average working hours: 8am - 5pm, five days a week (approximately 40 hours a week).
• Holidays: Employees accrue holiday at the minimum rate of two days per month. For some positions this increases to two and a half days each month when the job continues for a full year. The majority of annual holiday days are taken over the summer, leaving about one week for the winter.
• Average graduate starting salary: Wages are about the same in Finland as in the UK. Graduate starting salaries will be on a par with the industry average in the UK.
• Tax rates: Everyone, including immigrants, pays taxes to the state and local authority. If you are planning to work for longer than six months in Finland you should visit the local register office that will issue your personal identification number. The tax office will then give you a tax card that your employer can use to deduct tax from your pay, which will be based on a fixed percentage of your income. If you will be working in Finland for less than six months, your employer will withhold around 35% of your wages as tax. Taxation is quite high in comparison with many other European countries. More details are available from Vero Skatt.
• Working practices and customs: Initiative, diligence and individuality are highly valued in the Finnish workplace. Work and business conventions are more formal than in the UK. Business dress is typically very smart and a firm, formal handshake is a usual greeting. Meetings are formal situations and discussions are straight to the point. Strict adherence to agreements and schedules is very important. Short-term contracts are becoming popular in Finland but part-time work is less common than in other European countries.