Work in Finland

Internationally competitive in areas such as telecommunications, electronics and engineering, find out why Finland has plenty to offer those looking for work

Job market in Finland

Finland's job market has historically been dominated by the agriculture and manufacturing industries. However, it has now become a service society with most of its vacancies in the retail and industrial work professions.

Finland's main industries are electronics, metal and the wood and paper industry.

It is predicted that jobs will be created in healthcare and social work, as well as in services that support business life.

Led by phone manufacturer Nokia, Finland's telecommunications industry has made the country one of the most technologically advanced in the world.

Job vacancies

Search for jobs in Finland at:

• Aarresaari  - network of academic career services
• EURES Job Search  
• Uranus - Finnish Career and Recruitment Service  

Work experience and internships in Finland

Finnish employers expect graduates to have relevant experience before they are hired.

Practical training placements in Finland are possible through European Union (EU) programmes such as Comenius , which provides experience for those wishing to work in education.

Internships and summer work placements for students can also be arranged by:

• AIESEC UK  - for students and recent graduates; 
• IAESTE UK  - for science, engineering and applied arts students.

Volunteering in Finland

Volunteering can help you to improve your Finnish language skills and allow you to embrace the country's culture.

KVT (Kansainvälinen vapaaehtoistyö), which translates as the International Voluntary Service, organises work camps lasting from two to four weeks. The aim of the camps is to promote equality, social acceptance and respect for the environment, through getting out in to the community.

Make sure you thoroughly research all volunteering opportunities and always check the terms and conditions before committing yourself to a scheme.

Language requirements

The country has two official languages - Finnish (sometimes referred to as Suomi) and Swedish (spoken by only around 6% of the population). A basic knowledge of Finnish is important for most jobs, although this depends how far you are from the capital city, Helsinki. The type of job you do will also affect how good your language skills need to be. For example, you will be expected to have quite a high level of Finnish to work in the healthcare sector.

There are some Finnish language courses in the UK and many good websites exist to help you learn a language or improve your skills. One example is Finn-Guild - Finnish Studies , the largest Finnish-British organisation with 10,000 members divided between the two countries. It organises evening courses, intensive courses and private tuition.

Finnish visas and immigration

According to the European Commission, EU citizens have the right to:

• move to another EU country to work without a work permit;
• enjoy equal treatment with nationals in access to employment, working conditions and all other social and tax advantages;
• stay in the country even after employment has finished.

For more information and to check what conditions and restrictions apply, see:

• European Commission - Free Movement EU Nationals  
• Europa - Work-Related Rights  
• Europa - Workers and Pensioners  

EU nationals may also be entitled to have certain types of health and social security coverage transferred to the country in which they go to seek work. For country-specific information on social security entitlements, see European Commission - Your Rights Country by Country .

Depending on your occupation, your qualifications may be recognised in some countries. To find out more, visit Europa - Qualifications for Employment .