The population of Finland is approximately 5.5 million. The size of the country’s working age population will decrease in the years to come due to an increasing rate of retirement. At the same time, the number of immigrants is growing and people are staying at work longer. In 2018, the workforce consisted of just under 2.5 million workers. The average number of people unemployed in 2018 was approximately 200 000 and the unemployment rate was around 7.5%.
Today, most employed persons in Finland work in the service sector. The sectors employing the largest number of people are commerce, transport, hotel and catering services, education, health and social services and other services. Employment in the service industry is furthermore set to increase in the future.
Some of the biggest employers in Finland are Posti Group Oy, providing postal and courier services, the OP Group (banking and insurance) and ISS palvelut Oy, providing services for properties and office spaces. The biggest number of recent new employment opportunities have been in small and medium-sized enterprises. In Finland, the public sector is also a big employer. For example, the city of Helsinki is the largest single employer in Finland. It offers employment in the sectors of education, social and healthcare services, transport and maintenance.
Employers’ requirements regarding the staff they employ vary greatly according to the job. The absence of suitable employees in Finland is often due to jobseekers’ inadequate training or lack of relevant work experience or specialist skills.
About the COVID-19 situation
- Companies have stayed afloat over the summer with the help of government grants as well as their own financial and support instruments. The temporary amendment to the bankruptcy legislation has also had an impact.
- The number of laid-off workers is already approximately 100 000 less than the peak number recorded in the spring. The number of laid-off unemployed jobseekers continued to decrease until August and, now in the last week of August, it is below 65 000. Compared to the previous year, there are still many laid-off workers.
- Based on lay-offs, the COVID-19 crisis has hit companies in the hospitality sector and the regions of Lapland and Uusimaa the hardest.
- Youth unemployment is still at a worrying level and long-term unemployment rates have started to rise during the COVID-19 crisis.
- The number of new vacancies reported to Public employment and business services is below the number reported in the previous summer, but the situation has improved since the spring.
Economic and industry situations
- The decline in industrial production has continued since April. In June 2020, industrial production decreased by 6.9% compared to May 2019.
- In June 2020, the value of new industrial orders decreased by 11.7% compared to the previous year. Between January and June, the number of orders decreased by 11.3% on the previous year. In July, companies across all industrial sectors received fewer orders compared to the previous year.
- For the time being, the order books of large export companies have kept the manufacturing industry afloat. Order cycles of investment goods are often slow, which means that some of the effects on the industry of Finland are likely to be delayed.
- Positive factors of the economic situation • improved industry and consumer confidence, smaller reduction in the revenues of retail and service sectors, recovery of housing market, positive signals from European industry. • as an industry, the mining industry has so far suffered less due to Covid-19 compared to many other industries. The demand for raw materials has been maintained by different approaches to restrictions and the COVID-19 situation in different countries and continents
Finland uses a system that provides detailed information on which professions and occupations have a demand for or possible shortage of workers (the Occupational Barometer).
Links:
Occupational Barometer | |
Job portal | |
Suomi.fi service | |
Event page of the EURES portal | |
InfoFinland | |
Info on COVID-19 |
In Finland, most of the vacancies advertised are in the health and social services sector, construction industry, services and commercial sector (demand is particularly high in sales). There is a shortage of workers in particular in the following occupations according to estimates from just before the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged:
- Audiologists and speech therapists - (2266)
- Social work and counselling professionals - (2635)
- Early childhood educators - (2342)
- Nursing and healthcare professionals - (3221)
- Office and workplace cleaners - (9112)
- Generalist medical practitioners - (2211)
- Healthcare assistants - (5321)
- Specialist medical practitioners - (2212)
- Psychologists - (2634)
- Contact centre salespersons - (5244)
- Domestic cleaners and helpers - (9111)
- Chefs - (5120)
- Commercial sales representatives - (3322)
- Special needs teachers - (2352)
- Home-based personal care workers- (5322)
Most of the unemployment in Finland is in the industrial, technical, art, administrative and office work sectors. Finland has a surplus of workers particularly in the following occupations according to estimates from just before the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged:
TOP 15 SURPLUS
- Secretaries (general) - (4120)
- Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and hatters - (7531)
- Advertising and marketing professionals - (2431)
- Administrative and executive secretaries - (3343)
- Cabinet-makers and related workers - (7522)
- Electronic and automotive mechanics - (7421)
- Information and communications technology user support technicians - (3512)
- Graphic and multimedia designers - (2166)
- Information and communications technology installers - (7422)
- Journalists - (2642)
- Printing surface technicians - (7321)
- Printers - (7322)
- Print finishing and binding workers - (7323)
- Sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals - (2632)
- Photographers - (3431)
The region of Uusimaa is the largest region in Finland in terms of both population and labour market. It is located on the southern coast of Finland and has good transport links with major commercial hubs in both Central Europe and Russia. There are 1.6 million people living in Uusimaa, and the population density is around the average level for Europe. The population has grown by around 390 000 in 25 years. The largest municipality in the region is the capital Helsinki, which has over 600 000 residents. As well as the capital city, the cities of Espoo and Vantaa also have a strong position. Uusimaa is the powerhouse of the Finnish economy, and nearly half the turnover of all Finnish businesses is generated in that region. In addition to this, two-thirds of international business activity in Finland is centred in Uusimaa. Many international companies have their head offices in Uusimaa (including, among others, Nokia, Stora Enso, Kone and Nordea). In terms of its economic structure, the service sector dominates in the region. Knowledge-intensive business services are particularly important. The commercial sector also has a large share. Industrial activities are mainly centred on and around the core areas of Uusimaa, particularly Hanko, Raasepori and Lohja.
Finland’s network of universities and other higher education establishments cover the entire country, but the largest university, with many cutting-edge departments, is located in Helsinki. The level of education of the population in Uusimaa is higher than the Finnish average.
The Helsinki area is a growing metropolitan area, thanks to positive migration trends. People move to the region for jobs and the diverse range of training options. More than half of the people in Finland who speak a foreign language live in Uusimaa. The employment rate in Uusimaa is the second-highest in the country, with an average of 75% of the 15–64-year-olds in employment in 2019. Employment rate has increased in particular in the construction industry in the past years. The unemployment rate in Uusimaa was 6.5% in 2019.
Nearly one-third of all jobs in Finland are located in Uusimaa. In addition to the offices of Public employment and business services, information about job vacancies may also be found through company websites, recruitment agencies and social media. There is a significant proportion of hidden jobs.
The main working language is Finnish, although English is used as a working language in many international jobs requiring high-level expertise, particularly in research and IT sectors. Compared to the rest of Finland, in Uusimaa it is easier to get by using English. There are more people with Swedish as their mother tongue in Uusimaa than in Finland as a whole, so Swedish is also useful.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which there is a demand for workers, and where there is no demand.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
The area’s economic structure is very diverse, although the service sector is its biggest employer. The commercial sector is also in a strong position.
During the past few years, the most vacancies in Uusimaa have been in the construction, sales, social services and healthcare, warehouse, cleaning and restaurant industries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a considerable drop in the number of vacancies in the sales and service industries. Meanwhile the demand for workers in the social services and healthcare sectors has continued to grow.
In the long run, the demand for workers in the sales and service industries (salespeople, warehouse and cleaning jobs, restaurant industry) will continue to grow. In the future, the change in the age structure and dependency ratio will particularly increase the need for workforce in the social services and healthcare sector.
In Uusimaa, the unemployment figures have traditionally been considerably below the national average. This number has continued to go down in the past few years, especially in the construction industry. In 2020, there has been a large increase in the number of unemployed and laid-off persons, in Uusimaa as well, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The biggest challenges in finding employment in Uusimaa are associated with the outdated skills of the unemployed jobseekers and the high level of skills and expertise expected by employers. Uusimaa enjoys the highest educational level in Finland, but the region is also home to numerous people who do not have qualifications or skills currently in demand in the labour market. The region also has several industries and sectors that simultaneously have a large demand for workers and multiple vacancies.
In the summer of 2020, the highest unemployment rates in Uusimaa were among salespeople, restaurant workers, warehouse workers and secretaries. The unemployment is structural in nature, especially for office workers and secretaries.
Situated on the southwest coast, Southwest Finland is one of Finland’s growth centres, characterised by rising employment and net immigration. The region is in many ways a microcosm of Finland. It is in many senses one of Finland’s major hubs: in agriculture and food production, the metal industry, commerce, services and education. Turku has good transport connections with the rest of Finland: for example, trains and buses both go to Helsinki at hourly intervals (the journey takes two hours). There are ferries to Stockholm and the Åland Islands every day. There are also direct connections from Turku airport to the rest of Europe.
About half a million people live in Southwest Finland. Turku, the regional capital, is one of Finland’s major centres of higher education (with the Finnish-language University of Turku and the Turku School of Economics that has merged with it, the Swedish-language Åbo Akademi University and Turku University of Applied Sciences). The population of the Turku economic area is approximately 300 000, of whom 25 000 are students. A former Hanseatic League city, Turku has traditionally had plenty of contact with the rest of Europe. The international flavour of the region is reflected in the fact that, for example, the proportion of people under the age of 40 who speak other languages, particularly in Turku, is over 15% and the proportion of people who speak Swedish is over 5% of the total population.
The largest employers in Southwest Finland operate in the shipping, vehicle, pharmaceutical, metals and food industries. The industrial structure is gradually changing, and work involving services, customer service and consultancy is increasing in both the service and industrial sectors. However, workers with basic skills are still in demand in industry. On the other hand, the commercial sector, consumer services and creative cultural services will be recruiting more and more in the near future. Examples of individual growth sectors include software development, renovation, energy and environmental technology and financial management.
In terms of manufacturing, the region is export-oriented, since around half of its manufacturing output is exported, mainly to the rest of Europe. Southwest Finland is a service-intensive region, since the service sector employs 70% of all workers. As an administrative and educational centre, there are also many jobs in the public sector. With regard to private sector services, there is strong growth in business and consultancy services alongside the more traditional commercial, transport and hotel and catering sectors. The metal and technology sectors, such as the automotive industry (Valmet Automotive Inc.), shipbuilding (Meyer Turku Ltd.) and machinery and electronics industries (e.g. Wärtsilä, Sandvik and Teleste), play a major role in industry. The promising future for biotechnology and other such industries, however, is based on the strength of research in this sector, as well as the extensive medical and diagnostic industry linked to it (e.g. Bayer, Orion and Wallac). Agriculture and the food industry (e.g. Raisio and Marli) remain significant employers in the region, and specialisation in the sector forms a basis for development and continuity.
Unemployment in southwest Finland has been slightly lower than the national average, and the number of new vacancies of various kinds has been proportionately greater than in the rest of the country. The region needs a diverse range of professionals, with both vocational qualifications and university degrees. There are now hardly any jobs available for jobseekers who have not undergone vocational training. Work experience in the relevant sector and personal qualities that are appropriate for the job are also very important selection criteria. In times of economic strength, professionals in the industrial, construction, transportation and care sectors tend to be in short supply.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which where there is a demand for workers and where there is none.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
The COVID-19 pandemic has, at least temporarily, affected the two cornerstones of the area’s labour market, the shipbuilding and automotive industries; the shipyard of Meyer Turku Ltd. has had to resort to employee co-operation negotiations and redundancies as a result of the postponements of cruise ships orders and the uncertain situation of the entire cruise industry caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Meyer Turku has invested heavily in the future of the company and was planning to drastically increase its capacity in the coming years, which would have resulted in a significant number of additional recruits.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis in the automotive industry, Valmet Automotive Inc. also had to hold employee co-operation negotiations, which resulted in different lay-off arrangements affecting both waged and salaried employees while avoiding redundancies. However, the car manufacturing plant has already recalled a large proportion of laid-off workers back to work, so the situation has started to gradually go back to normal.
On the other hand, there has been positive news from the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries which are actively recruiting despite the pandemic or partly even due to it.
As a whole, however, the labour market is characterised by the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Shipbuilding, in particular, as well as automotive manufacturing are surrounded by a vast network of subcontractors, so changes in these two industries can be seen across the labour market in southwest Finland.
In southwest Finland, there is an ongoing need to fill posts in the social services and healthcare sectors (doctors, nurses and geriatric care). In these posts, language skills are often highly important.
More new workers are also required in agriculture (agricultural workers, relief workers and summertime garden workers) and as waiters and chefs in the catering sector during the summer season, particularly in the archipelago, which has seen an increased number of tourists from other parts of Finland as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
As the workforce ages, the number of people leaving the workforce is much greater than the increase in jobs. Because of this, new workers are required in all sectors, even in those occupations where the actual number of jobs is decreasing.
In Southwest Finland, there have been fewer unemployed people than in Finland on average. Long-term unemployment has also been quite low traditionally. There is a relatively high level of unemployment in office and secretarial work, and the level of employment among non-nationals is low. In a poor economic climate, young people and recent graduates with either a vocational training qualification or a university degree find it hard to obtain work in the Turku area. Global structural change in the electronics industry has resulted in increased unemployment among those with production-level jobs in industry.
The general cause of unemployment is a lack of vocational training and/or gaps in expertise in relation to the nature of the work. In many occupations, the rising levels of know-how required in jobs is both the cause of increasing unemployment and labour shortages.
Job requirements have changed in recent years. Mere technical skills are not always enough, personal qualities are also important. A willingness to learn, communication skills and a sense of team spirit are important qualities on which to build new technical skills too. Today, work requires continuous training and learning.
Satakunta lies on the west coast of Finland. The population of Satakunta is 216 800. The biggest cities in the region are Pori and Rauma. Both the population and the workforce of the region have declined in recent years. The unemployment rate was 6.5% in 2019, which is below the national average. In 2019, the average number of unemployed jobseekers on the unemployment register was 9 360.
Strong industries in Satakunta include the technology industry (metal processing, machine and metal product manufacturing), food industry, packaging industry, forest industry, energy production, chemical industry, construction, cleantech and industrial technologies and services. The biggest corporate employers of Satakunta include Satakunta Cooperative Society, Teollisuuden Voima Oyj, HKScan Finland Oy and UPM Communication Papers Oy. The status of maritime industry has become stronger in the past few years. In particular the shipbuilding industry, including Rauma Marine Constructions Oy and the associated chain of subcontractors, employ a large number of both metal industry workers and experts in design jobs requiring engineering skills. A rapidly growing sector is the cluster of automation, robotics and programming, which already directly employs about 1 250 people/year and even more indirectly. The proportion of the employed population who work in manufacturing is considerably higher than elsewhere in Finland. Industry is also heavily oriented towards exports. That is why the problems with the global economy are reflected more clearly in Satakunta than in the rest of the country.
The positive structural change resulting from the growth of the technology industry has also created growth opportunities for commerce and other services. Other developing industries include business services, adventure tourism and wellness, culture and event services and tourism. A positive economic trend was also seen in changes to the employment rate; before the COVID-19 crisis, the unemployment rate went down rapidly for several years.
Satakunta offers a wide range of professional training and vocational education. There is also a wide range of higher education available. The University Consortium of Pori consists of four different universities, and students can mix and match learning modules to incorporate them into their eventual qualification.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which where there is a demand for workers or where there is none.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
Most vacancies have recently been in services and sales as well as construction, renovation and manufacturing. Satakunta has jobs for professionals including sales assistants, personal carers, different construction workers, welders and flame cutters, different mechanics, repair technicians and electricians. Vacancies are also available in the cleaning industry. Seasonal vacancies are available, in particular in agriculture as well as sectors such as food processing. Jobs requiring a higher educational level are also available in Satakunta. The technology industry, for example, is constantly recruiting mechanical engineers and electrical and automation engineers.
There are problems with the availability of workers in many professions and occupations in healthcare, social welfare, industry and construction. There is a shortage of expertise for demanding roles, such as generalist medical practitioners, dentists, specialist medical practitioners, audiologists and speech therapists, civil engineers, mechanical engineers and electrical and automation engineers. There are also not enough applicants for nurse and personal carers vacancies. In the coming years, there will be an increasing demand for welders, flame cutters and other metal and mechanical engineering professionals, for example, in the shipping industry. There is also always demand for skilful construction workers.
The highest numbers of unemployed people are in construction, repair and manufacturing as well as in services and sales. Another large group are unemployed jobseekers who do not have any vocational training (with no profession or for whom the profession is not known). The level of unemployment is high among sales assistants, personal carers, chefs and other restaurant and commercial kitchen workers, general secretaries and cleaners. However, the number of unemployed is not directly proportional to the availability of the workforce. For example, there is a shortage of personal carers despite the high level of unemployment among personal carers. The same also applies to chefs and cleaners, and to carpenters to some degree. There is only a significant surplus of general secretaries.
Kanta-Häme is in southern Finland, about an hour’s journey by train or car from the capital Helsinki and southern Finland’s other largest cities. The largest city in the region is Hämeenlinna. The employment area is significantly larger than the area of Kanta-Häme because of commuting. People commute to the metropolitan area but also to places such as Tampere. They also commute from the metropolitan area to the region.
The population of Kanta-Häme was 170 925 at the end of 2019. Over the years, the population has declined due to negative natural increase and net migration between municipalities. However, the region has recently enjoyed a positive migration balance. Between January and July of this year, more people moved to the region compared to the last eight years. In other words, migration to the region has increased despite the COVID-19 crisis. The proportion of the total population under 15 years of age is slightly lower than the national average, while the proportion of those over 64 is above the national average. As in many other regions, the challenge is ensuring the availability of a skilled workforce. The region’s employment rate is higher than the national average, while the unemployment rate is lower.
The region enjoys a versatile business and skill structure. Industry has traditionally been a strong business sector, but economic transformation has strengthened the service sector. However, the percentage of employment in industry remains above the national average, with the percentage for the service sector is lower than the country average. The proportion of jobs in the public sector further stabilises the regional economy. There are also large and internationalised companies in the area. The machinery and metal industry, agriculture and food processing industry have traditionally been strong sectors in the region. The region has a lot of expertise and successful business operations in the sustainable use of natural resources as well as bioeconomy and circular economy. Tourism in the area is growing, and the aim is to further increase the number of tourists in the region. The region also has several growing logistics centres.
In 2018, the largest employers in Kanta-Häme included the City of Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme Hospital District, City of Riihimäki, Forssa Region Welfare District (FSHKY), Sarastia Rekry Oy, SSAB Europe Oy, Municipality of Janakkala, Defence Forces, Würth Oy, Hämeenmaa Cooperative Society, Valio Oy, City of Forssa, HKScan Finland Oy, Häme University of Applied Sciences Oy, Municipality of Hattula, Lidl Suomi limited partnership, Municipality of Loppi, Municipality of Hausjärvi and Parmarine Oy.
Kanta-Häme offers a wide range of professional training and vocational education opportunities. University education is not available in the region, but the Summer University of Häme organises some higher education courses from the degree programmes of various Finnish universities.
You can use the Occupational Barometer to find information about the sectors in which where there is a demand for workers, and where there is none.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
The economic structure in this area is diverse. The service sector is the largest employer, although it accounts for a smaller proportion of jobs than the national average. In 2019, there were plenty of new vacancies reported to the Public employment and business services in sales (e.g. sales assistants, sales representatives and call centre salespersons), social services and health care (e.g. personal care assistants, qualified nurses), industry (e.g. metal and food industry) and construction and logistics (freight handlers, warehouse workers).
According to the Occupational Barometer, there is a shortage of workers in the following occupations:
- machine tool setters and operators
- mechanical- and metal product assemblers
- telesales and customer-service centre staff
- office and workplace cleaners
- kitchen staff
- early childhood educators
- system analysts
- software developers
- psychologists
- social work and counselling professionals
- nursing and healthcare professionals
- child care workers
- welders and flame cutters
- sheet metal workers
- motor vehicle mechanics and repairers
The absence of suitable employees is often due to jobseekers’ inadequate training or lack of relevant work experience or specialist skills. There are increasingly fewer jobs available that require a low level of education, while on the other hand there is demand for specialist knowledge. Business needs can be specific and there is a demand for business-specific training. In the search for new job opportunities, professional and regional mobility will become more significant.
The current labour market situation is exceptional due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment increased significantly and at worst, there was a 20-fold increase (year-over-year) in the number of laid-off workers in the spring of the pandemic (1956%). The proportion of laid-off workers within those who are unemployed has been exceptionally high, which may be an indication of a faster return to work compared to previous crises. Nevertheless, the rest of 2020 will be challenging in the labour market. There is no clear overview of how many laid-off workers will be called back to work or if they will become permanently unemployed. In addition to the acute crisis, structural unemployment and long-term unemployment continue to be the other problems affecting the labour market. At the same time, difficulty recruiting skilled workforce continues in many sectors. The COVID-19 crisis has also contributed to the creation of a small number of new types of innovations.
The largest numbers of unemployed jobseekers in the offices of Public employment and business services are found among construction, repair, manufacturing and service and sales workers. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, service and sales workers represent the largest group at the moment.
Occupations may have both unemployment and a shortage of workers at the same time due to a mismatch between skills and other requirements. There is also a growing need for multi-skilled staff. In order to secure the availability of workers, there is an increasing need for individual study paths and business solutions.
According to the Occupational Barometer, there is a surplus particularly in the following occupations:
- general secretaries
- sales assistants
- hairdressers
- administrative and executive secretaries
- hotel receptionists
- house builders
- tailors, dressmakers, furriers, hatters
- advertising and marketing professionals
- painters and related workers
- mail carriers and sorting clerks
- beauticians and related workers
- banking personnel and related clerks
- financial office workers
- accounting and bookkeeping professionals
- travel agency workers
Based on preliminary data, as of June 2020 the population of Pirkanmaa was 518 700, approximately 1 000 more people than in December 2019. The number of open vacancies in 2020 was the same as in 2018 and 2019. The total workforce was 245 000, of which 15.7% were unemployed. In 2019, the average number of companies in Pirkanmaa was over 35 000, employing a total of approximately 150 000 people. During the first quarter, there were over 1 000 start-up companies in 2020.
The region’s strengths have remained the same; transport links to the capital region are excellent and the roads to nearby cities and municipalities are in a fairly good condition. However, the majority of the companies interviewed reported that they expect a challenging autumn in terms of the number of orders. Despite this, a drastic drop is not expected. The most significant factors are transport of goods, which seems to function well, and the fact that any bottlenecks in production are likely to be easily managed. International trade is the key to growth. The rest of 2020 is expected to be challenging for the labour market. Fortunately, the number of acquisitions had boosted growth compared to the situation in the spring.
There are significant differences within and between different sectors at the moment due to the COVID-19 crisis, but the same differences would also exist in normal economic conditions. The operations of several companies, especially in the fields of information, communications, finance and insurance, have remained stable. Traditional heavy industry is also doing well in some parts since demand is still there. Several sectors are already looking into different options for restoring growth. The retail industry, including the food retail industry, is doing very well at the moment. Other retail sectors are doing better compared to last year.
The largest industries as a whole, including industry, construction, different levels of trade, business services and the private healthcare sector, will need government support for some time. The significance and role of export guarantees will be essential. In the industry sector, for example the sawmill industry is expected to fare fairly well in the current situation as well as the chemical forest industry. Competence in mechanical engineering is driven by investment goods, so growth relies on the growth of other sectors. Business services will recover as long as economic growth achieves the level necessary for satisfying the needs of the services. Construction will continue in growth centres and maintenance backlog will be dealt with in old buildings.
Links:
Occupational Barometer | |
Pirkanmaa.fi |
The future employment situation is expected to change, and a shortage of workers will affect an increasing number of occupations. The most likely sectors to be affected will be many branches of industry, most multi-skilled employees, and marketing and sales, where there is a demand for staff with professional skills. There is shortage of the following occupations: civil engineers, web and multimedia developers, software developers, construction managers, real estate agents and property managers, payroll clerks, carpenters, house builders, roofers, tilers, finishers, insulation workers, air conditioning mechanics, plastic processing plant and machine operators, mechanical machinery assemblers, crane operators, earthmoving and related plant operators, cleaners and kitchen workers.
The services industry is expected to recruit more. Construction needs skilled workers from abroad, despite the large presence of Finnish skilled workers working in the sector. The construction industry needs a wider range of skills when it takes on staff. The whole industry needs foremen and staff with managerial skills. Demand was the highest for construction and production workers. Professions in high demand included: auto-painters, welders, machine operators, planers, IT user support staff, processing plant workers, excavator operators, wheel loader drivers, kitchen workers, cleaners, chefs, assembly workers, domestic cleaners, lorry drivers, helpers in establishments, early childhood educators, sheet metal welders, meat processing plant workers, HVAC engineers, personal carers, sales support staff, commercial sales representatives, directors, dressmakers, hairdressers, bottling machine operators, construction workers, rail workers, SolidWorks designers, social workers, shop sales assistants, janitors, technical sales representatives, production workers, storage labourers, receptionists, logistics workers and mechanics.
At worst, there was a 2-fold increase (year-over-year) in the number of unemployed and laid-off workers in the spring due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
According to the Occupational Barometer, there is a surplus of workers in the following occupations in Pirkanmaa:
- General secretaries
- Electronics and automation mechanics
- Other unclassified clerical support workers
- Paper product machine operators
- Advertising and marketing professionals
- Draughtspersons
- Child care workers
- Cabinet-makers and related workers
- Tailors, dressmakers, furriers and hatters
- Administrative and executive secretaries
- Product and clothing designers
- Graphic and multimedia designers
- System analysts
- Librarians and related information professionals
- Social and cultural researchers
Päijät-Häme is in southern Finland, and has especially good connections to the metropolitan area. Päijät-Häme’s largest city, Lahti, is about an hour’s journey by train or car from the capital Helsinki. However, the employment area is significantly larger than the Päijät-Häme area. People mainly commute to the metropolitan area and elsewhere in the Uusimaa region. They also commute from the metropolitan area to the region. There is also a significant number of commuters from Kanta-Häme and Kymenlaakso to Päijät-Häme.
The population of Päijät-Häme was 199 604 at the end of 2019. In recent years, the population has decreased slightly due to both negative natural population growth and net migration between municipalities. In early 2020, however, Päijät-Häme has enjoyed positive net migration in the migration movement between regions. The proportion of the total population under 15 years of age is below the national average, while the share of those over 64 is above the national average. The region’s employment rate is below the national average, while the unemployment rate is above the national average, being one of the highest among all regions.
Päijät-Häme has a varied business structure, with many SMEs engaged in export activities. Over a third of the region’s jobs is either in social services and healthcare or industry. However, industrial sectors continue to be more significant in Päijät-Häme than the Finnish average. The industrial structure is also considerably more varied than the regional average. Products manufactured in Päijät-Häme include furniture, beverages, clothing and sewer equipment. The region also has a significant plastic and forest industry and strong environmental technology expertise. Sales and construction are also major employers. Päijät-Häme is also Finland’s strongest family business region. The area also has strong food processing companies, and is a nationally significant producer of grains. Food grain processing is also dominant in Päijät-Häme. There is also potential for the further development of tourism in the region thanks to its lakes and nature. Physical activities and adventure tourism (including wellness) are one of the spearheads of the region’s smart specialisation.
In 2018, the largest employers in Päijät-Häme included Päijät-Häme welfare authority, City of Lahti, City of Heinola, Hämeenmaa Cooperative Society, Koskisen Oy, Municipality of Hollola, Salpaus Further Education, City of Orimattila, Päijät-Hämeen Laitoshuoltopalvelut Oy, Raute Oyj, Isku Interior Oy, Kemppi Oy, Wipak Oy, Versowood Oy, LAB University of Applied Sciences Oy, Novart Oy, Posti Oy, Oy Hartwall Ab and Lassila ja Tikanoja Oyj.
LUT University has a satellite campus, Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT, in the region’s central city of Lahti. Päijät-Häme offers a wide range of professional training and vocational education and higher education opportunities (Lahti University of Applied Sciences).
You can use the Occupational Barometer to find information about the sectors in which there is a demand for workers, and where there is no demand.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
The economic structure in this area is diverse. The service sector is the largest employer, although it accounts for a smaller proportion of jobs than the national average. In 2019, the majority of new vacancies reported to the Public employment and business services was in sales (e.g. sales assistants, sales representatives and call centre salespersons), social services and health care (e.g. personal care assistants, qualified nurses) and also in construction and logistics (freight handlers, warehouse workers). There were also multiple vacancies for office and workplace cleaners.
According to the Occupational Barometer, there is a shortage of workers in the following occupations:
- general medical practitioners
- audiologists and speech therapists
- applications programmers
- social work and counselling professionals
- personal carers
- electrical and automation engineers
- consultants and specialist doctors
- dentists
- early childhood educators
- special needs teachers
- software developers
- psychologists
- translators, interpreters and other linguists
- mechanical engineering technicians
- construction supervisors
The absence of suitable employees is often due to jobseekers’ inadequate training or lack of relevant work experience or specialist skills. There are increasingly fewer jobs available that require a low level of education, while on the other hand there is demand for specialist knowledge. Business needs can be specific and there is a demand for business-specific training. In the search for new job opportunities, professional and regional mobility will become more significant.
You can use the Occupational Barometer to find information about the sectors in which there is a demand for workers, and where there is no demand.
The current labour market situation is exceptional due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment increased sharply and at its worst, there was a 13-fold increase (year-over-year) in the number of laid-off workers in the spring of the pandemic (1244%). The proportion of laid-off workers within those who are unemployed has been exceptionally high, which may be an indication of a faster return to work compared to previous crises. Nevertheless, the rest of 2020 will be challenging in the labour market. There is no clear overview of how many laid-off workers will be called back to work or if they will become permanently unemployed. In addition to the acute crisis, structural unemployment and long-term unemployment continue to be the other problems affecting the labour market. At the same time, difficulty recruiting skilled workforce continues in many sectors. The COVID-19 crisis has also contributed to the creation of a small number of new types of innovations.
The largest numbers of unemployed jobseekers in the offices of Public employment and business services are found among construction, repair, manufacturing and service and sales workers. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, service and sales workers represent the largest group at the moment.
Occupations may have both unemployment and a shortage of workers at the same time due to a mismatch between skills and other requirements. There is also a growing need for multi-skilled staff. In order to secure the availability of workers, there is an increasing need for individual study paths and business solutions.
According to the Occupational Barometer, there is a surplus particularly in the following occupations:
- telecommunications and information technology engineers
- product and clothing designers
- graphic and multimedia designers
- vocational education teachers
- advertising and marketing professionals
- librarians and related information professionals
- journalists
- physiotherapy technicians and assistants
- medical secretaries
- helpdesk staff
- general secretaries
- bank tellers and related clerks
- travel consultants and clerks
- hotel receptionists
- library clerks
Kymenlaakso is located a good 100 kilometres from the capital Helsinki. The region has a population of 171 200. Kymenlaakso consists of two centres and their surrounding rural areas. The Kotka–Hamina sub-region to the south, located on the coast, and the Kouvola sub-region further to the north have populations of roughly the same size. The region’s population has decreased due to internal migration within Finland, but is increasing as a result of migration from elsewhere. Migration away from the region has clearly slowed down during the COVID-19 crisis. The working age population is falling more rapidly than the population as a whole. In 2019, 11.6% of the workforce was unemployed (9.2% for the country as a whole, employment statistics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment).
Location and the development of logistics are Kymenlaakso’s strengths. Kymenlaakso and the entire south-eastern region of Finland are characterised on the one hand by their location near the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, and on the other by the shared border with Russia and the proximity of St Petersburg. The area is divided by the railway line from Helsinki to Russia via Kouvola, and by the north-south railway, which is used mainly for cargo transport. There are relatively large numbers of commuters from this region to Helsinki and its surrounding municipalities. The train journey from Kouvola to Helsinki takes an hour and a half. The largest employer is social services and healthcare. The role of industry is still significant in Kymenlaakso’s business landscape. The strong export industry of the region relies almost entirely on industrial products. In addition to the pulp and paper industry and the metals industry, the region’s industrial sectors also include building materials, chemicals and food. The ongoing economic transformation has gradually diversified the region’s economic structure. Opportunities for new growth are increasingly sought in the support and modernisation of traditional industries (including forest industry, metal industry, smart logistics, development of tourism, food industry) and also in completely new sectors, such as gamification, audiovisual services, cybersecurity and smart packaging materials. Trade and logistics employ a large number of people in Kymenlaakso. Tourism is not yet a very big industry. In addition to the largest cities, major employers include Social and Health Services in Kymenlaakso, Kymi Region Cooperative Society, Defence Forces, Steveco, VR and UPM.
Public services are also important employers. In addition to social services and healthcare, major public sector employers include the Customs, Finnish Border Guard and Defence Forces. Despite the reduction in the workforce, agriculture is still an important sector, offering seasonal jobs from time to time.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information on the short-term outlook on the demand for various occupations.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
Approximately 8 550 new vacancies were reported to the Public employment and business services between January and July 2020, which is 17% less than in the previous year (entire country: -12%). The most vacancies were for office and workplace cleaners, salespersons, personal carers and contact centre salespersons. Compared to the previous year, there was a significant drop in the reported vacancies for building caretakers, gardeners, horticultural and nursery growers and workers, heavy truck and lorry drivers, commercial sales representatives and carpenters. On the other hand, there were more vacancies for office and workplace cleaners, garden and horticultural labourers, house builders and food and related products machine operators. Even though the demand for workers has decreased due to COVID-19, the region has an ongoing shortage of social service and healthcare workers. There are shortages of doctors, dentists, social service experts, dental hygienists, and psychologists, in particular. Skilled metal industry professionals are in demand. The IT sector shortage has also spread to Kymenlaakso. In industry, engineers, maintenance staff and international trade professionals are needed.
In the service occupations, some work can be found with little work experience, but a general requirement is to have appropriate training and work experience for the sector and normally also the ability to speak Finnish.
There are more qualified jobseekers in the current economic climate than ever before. Job applicants include both recent graduates and people with years of work experience. There are many jobseekers with experience in secretarial and office work or services, such as advertising and marketing. The importance of this work is reflected in the number of recruitments, and local jobseekers who are not available for all jobs.
South Karelia consists of two urban centres located fairly close to each other and the surrounding dynamic rural areas. The area has a population of around 127 800. Of the urban centres, Lappeenranta is the larger one, while Imatra, further east, is smaller. The most significant feature of South Karelia’s location is its proximity to Russia and to the city of St Petersburg. There are good road links across the border from this region. It is furthermore not far from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The region is losing some of its population to internal migration within Finland, but is gaining additional population from elsewhere as a result of immigration. The working age population is falling more rapidly than the population as a whole. A total of 10.6% of the workforce was unemployed in 2019 (9.2% for the country as a whole, employment statistics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment).
The two largest employers in the region are social services and healthcare and industry. South Karelia is home to one of Europe’s most important forest industry clusters. Many other strong sectors in the region, including metal industry, machinery and equipment repair, storage and transport support services, also have close ties with the forest industry. In addition to forest and bioeconomic knowledge, there is a strong environmental and energy-sector cluster in the area that produces new innovations and new growth-oriented business. In particular, the Lappeenranta area has a profile as a pioneer in the energy economy, circular economy and sustainable business sector. The energy and environment sector, especially service and expertise sectors, create major opportunities. The Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT offers degree programmes in economics in addition to technology. The university is also significant in providing a boost to the region’s business life. In addition to the largest cities, major employers include South Karelia Social and Health Care District, Stora Enso, Saimaan tukipalvelut, LUT, UPM and Ovako. Services connected to the Finland-Russia border are also important employers.
COVID-19 has had a negative effect in particular on tourism and retail industries, which are major employers. In tourism, the region has a lot of untapped potential in the utilisation the brand value of Lake Saimaa. Tourism industry is still seeking growth. In recent years, the growth of business services has balanced the fluctuations in the trade and processing sectors. The region especially aims to attract design and engineering offices and software companies. Lappeenranta is a significant centre of competence in the information technology field and is growing strongly.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information on the short-term outlook for demand for various occupations.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
In early 2020, the number of new vacancies reported to the Public employment and business services was approximately 5 600, which is about a fifth less than last year (entire country: -12%). Most open vacancies were for office and workplace cleaners, salespersons, personal carers, garden and horticultural labourers and contact centre salespersons. Compared to last year, there was a significant drop in the number of reported vacancies for salespersons, industrial machinery repairers and building caretakers Compared to last year, there were more vacancies for personal carers, agricultural and horticultural labourers and security guards. Rising sectors for the future include energy and the environment, IT and wellness and sports tourism.
Even though the demand for workers has declined due to the COVID-19 crisis, there are still shortages of workers in several occupations. Lappeenranta is already a significant centre of competence in the information technology field and is growing strongly. For example, there is a need for IT sales professionals, digital designers and software developers with a university or university of applied sciences background. The demand is not only in software companies but also in industry and many other sectors. There is also a demand for highly skilled workers in environmental, energy, health and social sectors (in particular doctors, bioanalysts, social service experts and healthcare assistants). There is a shortage of skilled professionals in the metal sector. Agriculture offers some farm work in summer, such as berry picking. The majority of jobs require training and work experience, and usually also the ability to speak Finnish.
There are more qualified jobseekers in the current economic climate than ever before. Job applicants include both recent graduates and people with years of work experience. There is a surplus of secretaries and office clerks, IT user support technicians and child care workers. The growing importance of this work is reflected in the number of recruitments, and local jobseekers are not available for all jobs.
With a population of 141 700, Southern Savonia is a sparsely populated region of great natural beauty in eastern Finland. The average number of residents per square kilometre is under 100. Inland waterways account for 25% of the total nearly 20 000 square kilometre area of Southern Savonia, which contributes to the fragmentation and the growing distances of the regional structure. Southern Savonia is one of Finland’s main holiday home areas. The increased volume in the holiday home business and domestic tourism this summer has triggered a demand for services. For the most part, holiday home companies have experienced a good occupancy rate.
In February 2020, the unemployment rate in Southern Savonia was 13%. The total number of unemployed people is 7 900, of which about 1 100 have been laid off. Due to retirements and other exits from the labour market, there will be nearly 10 000 job opportunities in 2020–2023; however, structural change in the production sector will result in the permanent loss of some traditional jobs. There is already, and will be, an increased demand for non-national workers.
There are approximately 54 000 year-round jobs in Southern Savonia. The demand for workers increases in the summer, because tourism and agriculture are important sectors for the region. There is not much commuting by public transport, this is at least partly because people mainly use their own modes of transport to get to work. Labour mobility into rural municipalities is particularly low.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which there is a demand and where there is a surplus of workers. In September 2020, there was a shortage of health and social service professionals in particular in services for the elderly and disabled especially in Southern Savonia and Pieksämäki. The situation varies enormously between sub-regions and between municipalities.
Links:
Esavo | |
Miksei Oy | |
Savonlinna Business Services | |
Pieksämäki Business Services | |
Occupational Barometer |
In the years to come there will be a need for workers, at least in the healthcare and social welfare occupations where there are eligibility requirements. In terms of volume, the demand is biggest for healthcare assistants and nursing professionals. However, the greatest challenge will be finding workers for social services. In the case of Pieksämäki, it is forecast that the geriatric and disabled care sectors will remain strong, and that there will even be a shortage of workers in these sectors. Foreign workforce employed in seasonal agricultural work is of great importance. Farms in Southern Savonia employ up to 3 000 non-national seasonal workers annually. Restrictions on movement imposed due to COVID-19 have consequently caused major issues. Some of the agricultural work available is demanding professional work, and some is more menial. The core areas of the regional strategy in Southern Savonia are the forest, water and food. A large number of jobs are needed especially at the start of the forest chain (harvesting, transport). In the field of industrial work and cleaning, for example, there are positions that are difficult to fill. Almost all the enterprises in Southern Savonia are fairly small, so it would be inappropriate to list any names here.
In the case of Southern Savonia, the most significant workforce surplus is still unemployed jobseekers, although in the care sector, the surplus is extremely scarce in particular in Pieksämäki. In contrast, there is an abundant workforce surplus for sales work and office work, but in these occupations there are also tasks that require specialist expertise, which cannot be filled in many parts of the region. Professional and regional mobility must be promoted to jobseekers, since the number of job vacancies in this sector will be very small in the future.
Jobs in agriculture and forestry are seasonal, and during the winter many people in these sectors are unemployed. The COVID-19 crisis has been challenging in this region for the agricultural industry due to the significant use of non-national workers.
The proportion of unemployed people in the workforce increased due to COVID-19, and it now stands at 14% in Northern Savonia. The strengths of Northern Savonia are the region’s diversity, the presence of solid international export companies, an expanding Kuopio area and its strong rural environment. The proportion of services is below average in terms of both the number of jobs and the number of people in employment. The proportion of jobs in the public sector for all jobs is declining. Income levels are slightly lower than the national average. The population of this region is approximately 250 000. The birth rate is markedly lower than the mortality rate in small rural areas. There has been a slight decrease in population level in Northern Savonia during the last year. Kuopio is an attractive growth centre in the region. With its diverse labour market, the Kuopio sub-region has become the main commercial hub in eastern Finland. The number of immigrants in Northern Savonia is still below the national average, but it is growing.
The positive trend in employment continued throughout 2019 up until the outbreak of COVID-19. Due to the high economic growth and the ‘top-heavy’ age structure of the region, large numbers of people will be retiring in the near future, and so the long-term forecasts are that unemployment will fall relatively quickly. There have been problems in the availability of workers, notably in areas outside the Kuopio area. The workforce is educated, but the number of people with a higher-education degree is not as high as the average in Finland. The University of Eastern Finland, which is especially renowned for its courses in medicine, is located in this region. The youth unemployment ratio has declined in the past years, but the measures imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have increased youth unemployment in particular. Long-term unemployment was on decline for several years, but it is now increasing again.
The main language skills requirement in customer services is Finnish, but in other areas of employment English may suffice.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which there is a demand for workers, and where there is no demand.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
Demand for workers is particularly high for professionals in the care sector, for welders and contact centre salespersons.
There have been job vacancies in the metals sector, particularly for machinists and welders with a high level of knowledge and professional skill. There are jobs available in the metals industry, particularly in the export industry. It is expected that the bioeconomy will also create more jobs in the industrial sector in the next few years.
Jobs for restaurant workers are generally filled from temporary worker agencies, and there are plenty of job opportunities in that field. The period for which restaurant workers are required is quite short in the summer season. As for winter tourism, there are a great many jobs available in the vicinity of the Tahko downhill skiing centre, both in restaurant work and in other tourism-related employment. Besides Tahko, tourism jobs are concentrated in the Kuopio area.
The economic situation in construction has been good, and there is a particular demand for supervisors, mainly in the Kuopio area.
There are also good job opportunities in telesales in the commercial sector, with remuneration based partly on commission. The commercial sector is a solid source of employment in the area of Kuopio. There are plenty of job opportunities for cleaners, both in the urban areas and in the Tahko tourist area.
There is great demand for berry pickers on strawberry farms in June and July. Most of these farms are situated in Inner Savonia. There has also been a need for farm workers, in particular in the sub-regions of Upper Savonia and Northeast Savonia.
In Northern Savonia, there are very few jobs available for applicants looking for low-skilled jobs, or for office workers, production line workers in manufacturing, dressmakers, gardeners, laboratory assistants, graphic and multimedia designers, musicians, singers and composers and general secretaries. Many people in these occupations are unemployed.
North Karelia is a region in eastern Finland with a population of 161 000. The population in the area has been declining since the 1990s and the working-age population is decreasing as the ageing population increases. The annual addition of a few hundred immigrants to the region has slightly balanced the population loss and the proportion of non-nationals in the total population is increasing gradually. In 2019, approximately 3.9% of the population had a non-national background.
Of this population, approximately 77 000 live in the regional centre of Joensuu. Joensuu is an attractive university city and home to the University of Eastern Finland’s Joensuu Campus of approximately 8 000 students and the Karelia University of Applied Sciences with nearly 4 000 students. Riveria, the North Karelia Municipal Education and Training Consortium, offers vocational education for roughly 15 000 students in Joensuu and five other municipalities in Northern Karelia.
The region’s strengths include its natural resources, a diverse education system, high expertise especially in the forestry, technology and plastics industries and its forest bioeconomy.
There are approximately 60 000 jobs in North Karelia. Around 70% of jobs are in services, just under 25% in processing and 6% in primary production. The region is home to approximately 11 000 companies with around 34 000 people in employment. The biggest employers in the region are industrial enterprises such as Abloy Oy (locks and locking systems), John Deere Forestry Ltd (forestry machines) and Medisize Corporation (plastics) and Northern Karelia Cooperative Society in the commercial sector.
In 2019, employment in North Karelia region was down slightly. The number of unemployed people at the end of the year was 1.4% higher compared to the same time frame in the previous year. The number of unemployed people as a proportion of the workforce averaged at 12.9% in North Karelia, compared to a national average of 9.2%.
While the number of unemployed people is high, some employers have difficulties attracting workers to highly skilled jobs, but also for tasks requiring a basic level of education or experience. There are issues in the availability of workers, particularly outside the Joensuu area. The number of non-national jobseekers is expected to increase.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which there is a demand for workers, and where there is no demand.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
In 2019, the Public employment and business services had approximately 15 200 job vacancies in North Karelia. Majority of the vacancies were in social services and health care with most jobs for personal carers, nurses and social workers. In the service sector, the majority of vacancies were for shop sales assistants, sales representatives and telephone salespersons. There were also plenty of vacancies for teachers, nursery teachers, construction industry professionals, plastics and metal industry workers, restaurant workers and cleaners. The region is expected to experience a shortage of specialists in the healthcare sector, such as dentists, generalist and specialist medical practitioners, psychologists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. There is a shortage of programmers in the IT sector. The industry and construction sectors are seeking welders, sheet metal workers, carpenters, plastic products machine operators and other specialists.
As a rule, there is demand for people with good skills and/or training, although for more routine-based, operational-level duties in particular, education and language skill requirements are less strict.
Companies are increasingly looking for new employees via their websites.
In 2019, there were on average 9 300 unemployed jobseekers in North Karelia. Most unemployed jobseekers were sales personnel, personal carers, construction workers, office workers and restaurant staff. Most unemployed people have been educated to at least secondary level.
It is expected that in the near future there will be a surplus of general secretaries, advertising, marketing and media professionals as well as cultural and artistic professionals.
In 2019, the population of Central Finland was 275 104, approximately half of whom lived in the Jyväskylä sub-region. Based on the migration movement between municipalities in the region (net migration), only the region’s centre and its surrounding areas had a positive migration rate in 2019 thanks to the addition of 600 new residents in Jyväskylä. This migration phenomenon is concentrated in the Jyväskylä area.
Central Finland consists of six sub-regions and 23 municipalities. As is the case in many regions, there are two aspects to the region’s internal local development: the region’s central area is successful, and that success is self-sustaining, while the rural areas are doing less well and the decline in the population is depriving them of the basis for a successful economy.
The natural strengths of the economic fabric of Central Finland include machinery and equipment, housing and construction and bioenergy companies. A clear transition has taken place in the business structure of the region. In many areas of Central Finland, there has been a considerable reduction in jobs in primary production. In contrast, jobs in the service sector are increasing. In recent years, growth of the service sector in the Jyväskylä area has been the highest in the country. Wellbeing services and knowledge-intensive business services as well as IT have been growth sectors in recent years. Industry continues to remain very important for the region’s business life. The new bioproduct mill in Äänekoski has created employment opportunities throughout the region. Furthermore, there is a highly diverse and multi-level range of educational courses in Central Finland. The network of educational institutions covers the whole region and Jyväskylä provides university-level education. The challenges facing the region are the shortage of skilled workforce and mismatch between skills and requirements.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
In July 2020, the Central Finland Public employment and business services had a total of 3 521 job vacancies The highest amount of open vacancies were in the service, sales, construction, repair and manufacturing industries.
As the workforce ages, workers are leaving the workforce. Because of this, new workers will be required in the future, even in those occupations where the number of jobs is currently falling. In Central Finland, the health and social services sector and the services, metal and machinery and construction industries are currently experiencing difficulties in obtaining adequately trained professionals locally (nurses, particularly social workers, shop sales assistants, electricians, plumbers and pipe fitters, welders, construction supervisors, concrete element workers and steel installers). The IT industry is also experiencing a shortage of skilled workforce.
In July 2020, there were 20 197 unemployed jobseekers in Central Finland. Unemployed jobseekers accounted for 16.1% of the workforce. The long-term unemployed accounted for 22.3% of all unemployed jobseekers. Youth unemployment also needs a lot of attention. The situation is particularly difficult for young people with no study place.
Southern Ostrobothnia is located in the central part of the country in western Finland. Approximately 189 000 people live in the region. The proportion of the population represented by young people and by those aged over 65 is slightly higher than in Finland as a whole. The population trend in the region has been polarised in recent years. The population has only increased in Seinäjoki. The population trend in other municipalities has been downward. A particular challenge for many municipalities is fewer young age groups and worsening conditions for business. Non-nationals account for a relatively small proportion of the region’s population, although the number of immigrants has been growing over the last ten years. The unemployment rate in South Ostrobothnia is one of the lowest in Mainland Finland.
Commuter traffic within the region is from neighbouring municipalities to Seinäjoki. Commuting outside the region is mainly to Vaasa.
The strong sectors in Southern Ostrobothnia are the food industry and associated primary production. Similarly, the construction, metal and mechanical engineering sectors, industry relating to wood-processing and retail are stable. The region has large production plants relating to the food industry, including those owned by Atria Oyj, Altia Oyj and Valio Oy. In the metals industry, there are many small and medium-sized enterprises, but also a number of larger ones. The major companies include Finn-Power Oy and MSK Group Oy. In recent years, the wood sector has faced new challenges, while new companies have also emerged in the sector, such as CLT production plants, which focus on the solid-wood element construction markets. In the commercial sector, the most well-known company is the Tuurin kyläkauppa hypermarket of Veljekset Keskinen Oy, but the Seinäjoki Ideapark shopping centre is also a major employer. The importance of the commercial and service sectors as employers is steadily increasing.
The technology and wood product industries have provided work for trained professional employees. There is recruitment for jobs that require specialist expertise of both new workers and those replacing the workers who leave. The economic growth has affected the availability of the skilled workforce and already caused recruitment problems in the region. There has been less demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the technology industry in particular is still experiencing significant challenges in attracting skilled workforce.
The region’s food industry employs many summer seasonal workers. Seasonal workers are also needed in the tourism industry. Powerpark, which is an experience and activity park located in Kauhava, recruits a great number of workers for the summer on temporary contracts.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which there is a demand for workers, and where there is no demand.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
There are many different types of job vacancies in the health and social services sector (general medical practitioners, specialised medical practitioners, nurses, public health nurses, dentists, dental assistants and therapists, audiologists and speech therapists, psychologists, social work and counselling professionals). Besides substitution and other temporary work, there is an increasing availability of permanent posts in the sector. In future, there will continue to be a clear need for additional workers in this sector, because of the ageing population and the retirement of workers currently active in the sector.
In industrial and construction work, applicants are expected to possess a high level of professional skill and diverse work experience. In the metal industry, work is available to workers with vocational training (welders and flame cutters, metal working machine tool setters and operators, metal polishers, wheel grinders and tool sharpeners, sheet metal workers and mechanical machinery assemblers). Recruitment is focusing more and more on various requirements associated with programming skills. The construction sector requires professionals in both supervisory and operational-level roles (civil engineers, construction supervisors, mechanical engineers, house builders, bricklayers, concrete placers, concrete finishers and related workers, carpenters and joiners, insulation workers and spray painters and varnishers).
It is predicted that recruitment needs will also increase for specialised roles in business services.
In the transport sector, there has been a particular need for heavy truck and lorry drivers with the appropriate professional qualifications.
The hospitality industry has a shortage of skilled restaurant workers, chefs and waiters. There is also a shortage of fast food workers. There are a good number of jobs available in the sector particularly in summer.
In the cleaning industry, there is a shortage of office and workplace cleaners in all sub-regions in the area.
There are vacancies in the food industry, especially for seasonal work. The tourism sector also needs large numbers of seasonal workers in summer.
Due to the economic upturn, new jobs have been created for the region’s skilled workforce and, in the near future, recruitment problems will affect an increasing number of occupations. It is already challenging to find skilled workers in the metal industry.
In commerce, there is a shortage of sales representatives, as well as of contact centre salespersons. Commerce has an important role to play in the employment of young people.
There are many unemployed jobseekers in the administrative and office work sectors (general secretaries, administrative and executive secretaries, IT user support technicians), and generally only a few job vacancies.
There are many unemployed jobseekers in the textiles and clothing sector (tailors, dressmakers, furriers and hatters), but not many vacancies.
A significant number of workers are retiring, and the birth rate of the region is not sufficient to create an adequate workforce for the labour market. Internal mobility could be a solution to this problem. However, it is more likely that companies will be able to find new workers via immigration. The importance of work-related migration to the region must be emphasised, because the population has been decreasing for years, and the region is losing its population to internal migration within Finland.
The Ostrobothnia region consists of the sub-regional coastal areas of Vaasa, Pietarsaari, Kyrönmaa and Suupohja. The population of Ostrobothnia was 180 445 at the end of 2019. The population has grown in the region for several years, but in more recent years the population has slightly decreased. Over half of the region’s entire population lives in the Vaasa sub-region, and the growth in population is concentrated in this area. Migrant workers have played a key role in the area for many years. At the end of 2019, a total of 12 665 foreign-language speakers lived in Ostrobothnia, accounting for 7.0% of the total population in the region. The region is characterised by a high level of bilingualism: half of the population speaks Swedish as their first language.
The unemployment rate of Ostrobohnia was stable and going down before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic, the region’s unemployment rate increased significantly. The proportion of unemployed jobseekers of the workforce was 11.4% in July 2020 (during the same time in the previous year, it was 7.3%), which is the second lowest in mainland Finland. In July 2020, the region’s lowest unemployment rates were in the municipalities of Luoto (5.9%) and Närpiö (5.3%). The region’s unemployment rate was highest in Vaasa (14.6%) and Pietarsaari (13.3%). The number of vacancies has been increasing for a long period of time.
The strengths of Ostrobothnia include its successful and diverse export industry, strong entrepreneurial tradition and international nature. Ostrobothnia’s international dimension is built on the region’s good connections, versatile higher education opportunities, large international companies and multilingual operating environment. Vaasa and Pietarsaari are the commuter hubs in this region. The major industrial sectors in Ostrobothnia include the energy, maritime technology, food, plastics, bioproduct and boating industries, as well as industrial services. Pietarsaari is known for its world-class boating industry. Other strong sectors include the food, paper and forest industries.
Other notable business sectors in Ostrobothnia are agriculture, forestry and the fishery sector, which provide employment to around 4 700 people in total. Primary production is another major employer, particularly in the coastal area of Suupohja, where almost one in every four employed persons works in agriculture. The region’s agricultural production is significant for Finland as a whole, as it produces 70% of all tomatoes and cucumbers in Finland. (Publications of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment 31/2018.)
The biggest companies include the technology firms Wärtsilä, ABB and Danfoss and the forest-based industry company UPM-Kymmene. These are all industrial enterprises that have had great success in global markets and invest in high-level expertise, technology and export. In 2018, the number of companies in Ostrobohtnia was 13 232. The majority of the companies were small or medium sized. The region is known for its strong entrepreneurial spirit. Some of the most interesting companies include Närpes Trä och Metall, Kyrö Distillery, VEO, Beamex, Fresh, Dermoshop, Ukkoschnapps, Alucar, Logset, Nautor´s Swan, Targa, Prohoc, etc.
A total of six higher education establishments operate in Ostrobothnia. The University of Vaasa focuses on economics and business administration and technology. Åbo Akademi University’s Vaasa unit provides education in social and education sciences. The Swedish-language Handelshögskolan, Hanken for short, offers a wide range of education in economics and business administration. The University of Helsinki provides bilingual legal education in Vaasa. Other higher education providers in the area are the Vaasa University of Applied Sciences (VAMK) and the Novia University of Applied Sciences. All higher education establishments in the region have a strong international flavour and they also offer both bachelor- and master-level degree programmes in English. Secondary education providers include the Finnish-language Vamia and the Swedish-language Yrkesakademin i Österbotten. Both establishments provide versatile vocational training for young people and adults, as well as for the demands of local work and business. Internationalisation is an important goal, and the units serve the region in multiple languages.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
According to the July 2020 employment survey, there were 4.6% more job vacancies in Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia compared with the same time in the previous year. The number of new open vacancies has continued to increase despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of absolute numbers, most new vacancies were found among construction, repair and manufacturing industry workers.
According to the Occupational Barometer published in autumn 2020, the sub-regions of Vaasa and Pietarsaari continue to have labour shortages across a wide range of sectors despite the COVID-19 crisis. Companies in these regions need skilled workers of all levels. The biggest shortages are of office and workplace cleaners, nurses, public health nurses and doctors. There are also shortages of nursery teachers, psychologists, accounting associate professionals and construction industry professionals. The IT sector has had a constant shortage of professionals for several years now. More detailed information is available in the Occupational Barometer: https://ammattibarometri.fi.
It is too early to predict the final effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the region’s companies. The sector hardest hit by the crisis is the hospitality industry. The commercial sector, on the other hand, has even grown in some sub-sectors, such as food and DIY. The crisis’ effects on manufacturing and construction industries will be seen later due to long order books and projects. It is typical for the region to enter an economic downturn with a slight delay and the number of orders in our region usually drop later when the economy is already picking up again in other regions.
A historically quite unprecedented situation is currently taking place in the labour market, where the number of those retiring from work is increasingly outnumbering the young people who replace them. Competition for labour will become fiercer, not only between companies but also between sectors and regions. The importance of work-related migration and international experts is emphasised for securing vitality and growth of the region for the future. Ensuring the availability of a skilled workforce in the region must remain a priority so that the conditions for growth remain favourable.
Central Ostrobothnia consists of the sub-regions of Kokkola and Kaustinen. In December 2019, the population of Central Ostrobothnia was 68 158. Population growth has been concentrated in the Kokkola area, where over four-fifths of the region’s entire population live. A total of 10% of the population in Central Ostrobothnia speak Swedish as their native language. The proportion of foreign-language speakers out of the total population was 3.0% at the end of 2019.
The proportion of unemployed jobseekers of the workforce was 11.8% in July 2020. It is the third lowest in mainland Finland. The number of unemployed people in the region has increased sharply as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The major industries in Central Ostrobothnia include the metal and food industries, the manufacturing of machinery and equipment and the chemical industry. Metal industry subcontractors also support the region’s boating industry: most of the heavily export-oriented Finnish boating industry is concentrated in the regions of Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia. The region’s food processing industry is also diverse and export-oriented. The major companies in this field operate in the meat processing and dairy industries and in the manufacture of soft drinks. The largest Nordic inorganic chemical industry cluster is located in Kokkola: Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP) hosts dozens of top companies in the chemical and metal industries, and is considered a pioneer in the circular economy in Finland and in Europe. The cluster provides employment for thousands of people. Most of the production plants in KIP operate internationally and export almost 100% of their output worldwide.
Primary production in Central Ostrobothnia is strong and diverse. The region has also utilised novel AI- and bioeconomy-based innovations in increasing the efficiency of its agricultural production. Some of the agricultural producers are also engaged in exports. Another significant source of income in primary production is fur farming. Almost all the over 1 000 fur farms in Finland are small family businesses that operate in the Ostrobothnian regions. They export nearly 100% of their production. In 2018, the number of companies in Central Ostrobothnia was 4 662. Some of the most interesting companies in the region include Boliden, Raisoft, Finn Spring Oy, FineWeld Oy, Kokkolan Halpahalli Oy and Kosila.
Central Ostrobothnia offers education at both university and university of applied sciences level. The Kokkola University Consortium Chydenius is a multidisciplinary joint institution of the universities of Jyväskylä, Oulu and Vaasa. The University of Jyväskylä is responsible for the coordination of its activities. It is a pioneer in the provision of university-level adult education and an important researcher partner in the area. The Centria University of Applied Sciences focuses on the needs of working life, digitalisation and international activities. Centria provides education in the areas of production technology, chemistry and bioeconomy, digitalisation and entrepreneurial service production. The Federation of Education in Central Ostrobothnia (KPEDU) offers vocational upper-secondary basic and continuing education, in-service training, apprenticeships as well as adult education courses. KPEDU is also active in regional and business development in the area.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
According to the July 2020 employment survey, there were 4.6% more job vacancies in Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia compared with the same time in the previous year. The number of new open vacancies has continued to increase despite the COVID-19 epidemic. In terms of absolute numbers, most new vacancies were found among construction, repair and manufacturing industry workers.
According to the autumn 2020 Occupational Barometer, there is a shortage of workers on all levels and across several sectors in Central Ostrobothnia. The biggest shortages are for psychologists, software developers and programmers, nurses and public health nurses. More detailed information is available from the Occupational Barometer: https://ammattibarometri.fi.
It is too early to predict the final effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the region’s companies. The sector hardest hit by the crisis is the hospitality industry. The commercial sector, on the other hand, has even grown in some sub-sectors, such as food and DIY. The crisis’ effects on manufacturing and construction industries will be seen later due to long order books and projects. It is typical for the region to enter an economic downturn with a slight delay and the number of orders in our region usually drop later when the economy is already picking up again in other regions.
A historically quite unprecedented situation is currently taking place in the labour market, where the number of those retiring from work is increasingly outnumbering the young people who replace them. Competition for workers will become fiercer, not only between companies but also between sectors and regions. The importance of work-related migration and international experts is emphasised for the future to secure vitality and growth in the region. Ensuring the availability of a skilled workforce in the region must remain a priority so that the conditions for growth remain favourable.
Northern Ostrobothnia consists of 30 municipalities, and the largest city is Oulu. The region’s population increases annually, although it has slowed down in the past couple of years compared to 2010 and thereafter. At the end of 2019, the population of Northern Ostrobothnia was approximately 413 000. In particular, international migration has increased the population. The clear majority of population growth is seen in the Oulu region, which is the educational, business and innovation capital of Northern Finland. The number of people in employment in the region is approximately 178 000.
The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 caused a significant spike in the unemployment rate. Many employers resorted to reducing their employees’ working hours in the difficult situation. However, the region still has a high demand for workers and there are plenty of open vacancies. At the end of July, the region had a total of 28 100 unemployed jobseekers (including laid-off workers), which is 8 000 more than in January 2020 and 7 000 more than the year before. Unemployment varies per municipality in Northern Ostrobothnia — the situation is best in the south of the region. The COVID-19 crisis has increased the unemployment rate among workers of all ages and most industries have had to take measures to help employees adapt to the challenging situation. However, as of September 2020, there have been no major bankruptcies or redundancies in the area. In the past few months, the employment situation has improved, the restrictions imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 have been lifted and many people who had their hours cut have returned to full-time work.
In the municipalities on the periphery of Northern Ostrobothnia, there are many jobs available in primary production and many occupations related to the use of natural resources. The municipalities in the south of the region, and particularly in the Raahe area, have significant numbers of jobs available in the industrial sector, particularly in the metal, mechanical engineering, and construction products industries. Jobs in services are concentrated in the larger towns (including Ylivieska and Kuusamo), and especially in the Oulu sub-region.
The public sector is a large employer in terms of numbers (especially in health and social services and education) – while important industries in the private sector include the electrical and electronics industries (e.g. Nokia, Polar), the metal industry (e.g. SSAB), the mechanical engineering industry, construction, commerce and the private service business (especially in the IT sectors). Competition in the labour market continues to be tight due to COVID-19, and many employers in the region are experiencing difficulties in recruiting and notice a shortage of skilled workers. Qualified experts and operational-level workers are in demand in different parts of the region.
The bi-annual Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the sectors in which there is a demand for workers, and where there is no demand.
Links:
Occupational Barometer |
The average number of jobs on offer by Public employment and business services for Northern Ostrobothnia is around 7 000–8 000 per month. In many sectors (e.g. construction, tourism, servicing and maintenance), the demand for workers fluctuates throughout the year and many sectors depend on the economic situation. There are still relatively many jobs in the IT sector in Northern Ostrobothnia, and IT professionals will be actively recruited in the future. Retirement on the part of the baby-boomer generation and the demand for workers from growth businesses will create jobs in the future.
There are still plenty of open vacancies in Northern Ostrobothnia. In some sectors the demand for skilled workers exceeds availability. The region’s companies need workers for example in the IT, metal and mechanical engineering industry, construction, tourism, social service and healthcare industries. There will also be a significant number of jobs available in these sectors (including related industries) in the coming years. There is a demand for managers, experts and operational-level workers at various qualification levels. Several tasks require basic training and up-to-date expertise, but employers are also ready to provide training for active new elementary-level employees.
In Northern Ostrobothnia, there are still reserves of unemployed, and new jobseekers are continuously graduating to the labour market from training organisations. However, in some sectors (IT, metal industry, healthcare), labour shortages are substantial or have lasted so long that recruitment is now actively being targeted outside the region. The aim is to attract professionals or those who wish to commit to smaller localities.
As automation, digitalisation and e-commerce become more commonplace, the number of basic occupations will decline (general secretaries, administrative assistants, customer service workers and assembly workers), while the proportion of expert positions in the labour market structure will grow. As e-commerce also becomes more commonplace, many sales people will need to change employer or sector. A lack of training and work experience and an outdated knowledge base are undermining employment.
Kainuu is a region in central Finland known for its forests. Kainuu is composed of eight municipalities, and about half of the inhabitants live in Kajaani, the central municipality. Kainuu has plenty of space – there are fewer than four inhabitants per square kilometre – and much unspoilt countryside. Inhabitants of Kainuu enjoy a safe environment, good everyday services and excellent exercise and outdoor activity facilities. The region’s population is shrinking due to migration and it has an ageing population. Even though Kainuu is almost the size of Belgium, the region’s population at the end of 2019 was only 72 306, which decreased by 755 over the year. The number of non-nationals in the region is approximately 1 400. At the end of June 2020, the proportion of unemployed jobseekers of the workforce was 13.5% – the effect of COVID-19 was evident and the unemployment rate went up by 3.1% compared to June 2019. The number of unemployed jobseekers stood at 4 281, which is 940 (+28%) more than in the previous year. However, the situation improved significantly over the summer. Kainuu has a shortage of skilled workers, and the COVID-19 crisis has not changed the overall picture; the number of young people entering the labour market is considerably lower than the number of people exiting the labour market.
Before restrictions due to the COVID-19 crisis were imposed, the annual unemployment rate in Kainuu had been in decline for 55 consecutive weeks. There has also been a high demand for workers especially in social services and healthcare, and in the metal and cleaning service industries for a long time. Mining is an important source of employment in Kainuu. The largest mine in the region is Terrafame Oy in Sotkamo. Terrafame’s activities and associated changes can strongly affect the region’s mining cluster and the economy as a whole. Just under 1 300 people work in the Terrafame industrial area, half of whom are employed by Terrafame’s partners. It has been forecast that the region’s ore and mineral reserves guarantee production for several decades to come. The operation of the silver mine Sotkamo Silver Oy will start in March 2019, but ore extraction in the area had already started in the autumn of 2018.
In the metal industry, the powerhouse of regional growth is Transtech Oy, which is part of the Škoda Transportation Group. Transtech is a manufacturer of rolling stock and mechanical engineering products. The company’s order book is booked for years to come, and its need for workers is continuous. Transtech is in need of various technology industry professionals such as welders, installers and supervisors.
The positive trend in tourism continues, and the number of workers in the field is increasing. Investments and new initiatives aiming to increase international tourism create potential for the growth of tourism in the near future. Tourism in Kainuu is concentrated in the Vuokatti area, which offers excellent facilities for sporting and outdoor tourism.
In July 2019–June 2020, 10% more new vacancies were available in Kainuu compared with the preceding 12-month period. During the previous year, a total of 7 569 new jobs were reported to the Public employment and business services office. Of these, 85% (7 193) were in the Kajaani area. The COVID-19 crisis affected the number of open vacancies, but in June, the number of reported new vacancies was higher than in the previous year.
Most of the new vacancies on offer through Public employment and business services in the previous year were in specialist and consultancy roles (1 973) and services and sales (1 808). The demand for farmers and forest industry workers increased with plenty of jobs in the industries reported to Public employment and business services under the classification of ‘other workers’, which covers groups such as cleaners and construction, repair and manufacturing workers.
Links:
Occupational Barometer | |
Regional Council of Kainuu | |
RecruitmentKainuu Project | |
Public employment and business services/Kainuu Public employment and business services Vacancies (in Finnish) TE-palvelut/Public employment and business services | https://paikat.te-palvelut.fi/tpt/?searchPhrase=kainuu&announced=0&leasing=0&english=false&sort=1 |
In the health and social services sector there is a particular need for doctors, dentists, nurses and personal carers. There is a shortage of skilled cleaners and sanitation workers, as well as welders, sheet metal workers, machine operators and protective services workers. Work in the metal sector can be found in large and small enterprises. The major metalworking company in the area is Skoda Transtech, which produces train wagons and has 350 employees.
There are vacancies, especially in the Kajaani and Sotkamo areas. Mining is the main sector of activity and new jobs are opening up. The construction of Terrafame’s battery chemicals plant started in the spring of 2019, and commercial production is expected to commence at the start of 2021. In addition to the 400 jobs in the construction period, the plant is expected to employ around 140 people once operational. During its construction period, Sotkamo Silver Oy has employed 160 people, and once the production commences, it is expected to employ around 60 people in process and maintenance work.
In addition, the tourism industry has a constant demand for (seasonal) workers.
The employment situation in Kainuu became significantly worse after the spread of COVID-19. In June 2020, there were a total of 4 281 unemployed jobseekers in Kainuu, which is 940 (+28%) more than in the previous year. However, the situation has improved significantly over the summer and no drastic spike in the unemployment rate is expected in the autumn either as long as there is no second wave of COVID-19.
Between July 2019 and June 2020, there were large numbers of unemployed construction, repair and manufacturing workers, service and sales workers and transport workers. According to the Occupational Barometer, there is a surplus of workers such as general secretaries, building construction labourers, other clerical support workers and information and communications technology installers and servicers.
Straddling the Arctic Circle, Lapland is Finland’s and the entire EU’s northernmost international region. It covers almost a third of the entire area of Finland. Lapland shares a border with the EU Member State Sweden, EEA country Norway and Russia. Lapland has 21 municipalities with a total population of approximately 177 200. Lapland is the least densely populated region of Finland. A total of 60% of the population lives in the three largest towns, Rovaniemi (63 000), Tornio (21 600) and Kemi (20 700). There are almost 4 000 non-nationals living in Lapland.
There are around 70 200 jobs in Lapland, of which 65% are in the private sector, 29% in municipalities and 7% in central government. The region is home to the offices of 12 500 companies, most of which have fewer than five employees. New jobs are mostly created in companies. A total of 75% of all jobs is in public or private sector services, 20% in processing (industry, construction, mining and excavation), and just 4% in primary production. In services, most jobs are in health and social services, tourism and commerce. The most regionally characteristic livelihood in Lapland is reindeer husbandry.
Lapland’s strengths are its international flavour and versatile business structure. Growing and developing industries include tourism, services and the export-oriented mining and industrial sectors. The bioproduct manufacturing and processing plants planned for Kemi and Kemijärvi will have significant needs for workers during the construction and operational stages. Lapland is investing in digitalisation and the development of robotics in the Arctic environment, and in Arctic conditions and testing. The clean air and nature of Lapland enable the processing and cultivation of natural products and their utilisation in a number of different business sectors. Creative sectors, such as media production, are also growing in the region.
Tourism and the services supporting it are growing in Lapland as the number of Finnish and non-national tourists continues to increase. Famous tourist centres include Levi, Ylläs, Pallas, Olos, Kilpisjärvi, Saariselkä, Pyhä-Luosto and Sallatunturi. The Rovaniemi greater area is famous for the Arctic Circle, Santa Claus and the Ranua Wildlife Park. Famous tourist attractions of Sea Lapland include the SnowCastle365 and icebreaker cruises. In tourism, the demand for workers is the highest in the high season during winter and spring, but tourists also come to Lapland to see it in the summer and to enjoy the autumn colours. Tourism investments are reflected in the need for workers in the construction industry.
Lapland has strong, growing and export-oriented primary industry along with its supplier chains. Most industrial companies are located in the Kemi-Tornio area. The major industrial sectors include the manufacture of basic metals (Outokumpu Oyj in Tornio), paper and cardboard products (Stora Enso and Metsä Fibre in Kemi), motor vehicles and trailers (BRP Finland in Rovaniemi) and the processing of sawn timber and wood products. Another major employer is logistics (road and rail transport, ports in Kemi and Tornio and five airports).
In addition to those mines already in operation, several other mine and ore exploration ventures are planned for Lapland. The mining industry employs thousands of people in Lapland, either directly or through subcontracting, contracting work or the public sector. There are three metal ore mines operating in Lapland: the chrome mine in Kemi, the gold mine in Kittilä and the Kevitsa multi-metal mine. There is a need for skilled workers in the industry.
The University of Lapland in Rovaniemi and the Lapland University of Applied Sciences in Rovaniemi, Kemi and Tornio provide higher education. Vocational colleges organise training courses all across Lapland. There are international students from many different countries studying at educational establishments in Lapland.
The Occupational Barometer provides additional information about the professions and occupations where there is demand for, or even a surplus of workers in Lapland. Further information about Lapland is available through the links.
Links:
Occupational Barometer | |
House of Lapland | |
Töihin Lappiin | |
Lapin luotsi | |
Public employment and business services for Lapland | |
Public employment and business services in Lapland |
In 2019, a total of 24 100 new open vacancies in Lapland was reported to the Public employment and business services. Private businesses account for most of the jobs. Most vacancies were in services, sales, tourism, care and health services and construction. Employers use several channels for recruiting, such as temporary worker agencies.
During spring and summer 2020, the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were reflected in a decreased demand for workers especially in the service industries, but there are still shortages of workers in several occupations. In tourism, the winter season of 2020/2021 is looking challenging and uncertain. There are also uncertainties in other sectors, even though their situation was better than that of the service industries in spring and summer 2020.
The seasonal nature is also reflected in the vacancies: for example, in tourism plenty of jobs are available especially in the winter and spring peak seasons. There is a shortage of chefs, waiters, tourist guides, cleaners and Santa’s elves, especially during the tourist seasons. Tourism in Lapland also provides employment for people from all around Finland and abroad. Besides vocational skills, attitude and aptitude are important aspects of recruitment. Language skills are required in many tourism occupations and in other internationalising sectors. In addition to English, speakers of many other languages are needed.
There is a constant need for professional and competent employees in the health and social services sector. Jobs (e.g. for home care assistants, nurses, care assistants, physicians, speech therapists, physiotherapists and dental assistants) are available mainly in the municipal sector and to some extent in the private sector. There is also a need for competent teachers in the municipal sector.
Growth and investments in the industrial and tourism sectors also create jobs in forestry, construction and logistics industries. Auto testing and ore exploration also provide seasonal employment.
In 2019, the average number of unemployed workers in Lapland was under 9 000 with unemployed persons accounting for 11% of the workforce and an employment rate of 70%. Due to the demand for workers, the unemployment rate was on decline for the last several years. Youth unemployment is concentrated in the biggest towns. Unemployment affects both operational-level workers and professionals. The highest rate of unemployment is in construction, craft and related trades, as well as in services and sales. Although Lapland’s unemployment rate is slightly higher than elsewhere in Finland and its job structure is challenging, skilful and educated professionals find employment easily in all sectors. In services and other seasonal industries, the number of unemployed jobseekers fluctuates considerably throughout the year, particularly in municipalities with tourist resorts. Lapland will need more professional workers from outside the region in several sectors. The age structure of the region's workforce and long-term development forecasts increase the need to recruit workers from elsewhere in Finland and abroad. Employers are also increasingly interested in recruiting non-national workers already living in Finland, as well as immigrants.
The measures imposed to slow down the spread of COVID-19 caused a sharp spike in the unemployment rate in March 2020 with the number of unemployed persons peaking at nearly 15 800. The effects of the restrictions have been significant, especially on the sectors linked to tourism, which can be seen in the considerable variation in the increase of unemployment rates across different sectors and municipalities. As a result of lifting the restriction, the unemployment rate reached its peak in May and continued to go down over the summer primarily due to laid-off workers returning to work. However, at the beginning of autumn, the unemployment situation is worse than it was at the same time last year, and the rest of 2020 and the entire 2021 are looking very uncertain in terms of changes in the employment situation.
At the turn of the year, the population of Åland was 29 884, around 50% of whom belong to the labour force. The Åland labour market is characterised by a high level of participation in employment for both women and men, a high employment rate and relatively low unemployment.
Åland has a large public sector with extensive self-government, 16 municipalities with their own administration and some State enterprise. Public child day care, schooling and care are well developed. Around 34% of the labour force is employed in the public sector. The proportion is considerably higher among women than men, particularly in the major sectors of care and education.
Åland has around 2 600 companies. Among those companies, small companies with between one and four employees predominate. The largest companies are in shipping. The service sector (23%) and the banking and insurance sector (21%) are also major employers. There are also some large companies in the IT sector and the food industry as well as, to some extent, in manufacturing.
Åland has long had fairly high immigration. Previously, immigration had been from other parts of Finland – primarily from the Swedish-speaking areas – and from Sweden. Since Åland and Finland joined the EU, and in particular since EU enlargement, immigration from, for example, the Baltic and the Balkans, has increased sharply. There is also a significant number of people from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Thailand and the Philippines.
The current coronavirus situation and the restrictions currently in place have major consequences for the employment situation in the Åland labour market. In May, the relative unemployment rate averaged 13.4 per cent, compared with 3.2 per cent in May last year. Following the rapid increase in the number of unemployed and laid-off jobseekers in the spring, the number has been declining slowly since mid-June. In May 2020, the number of unemployed jobseekers was 2 046, compared with 491 in May last year, an increase of 317 per cent. These figures also include people who have been laid off. The vacancies in relation to the number of unemployed jobseekers were 6.6 per cent in April this year, which is as much as 80.0 percentage points lower than in April last year.
Statistical data:
- population: 29 884 (31/12/2019)
- labour force: 15 318 (31/12/2017)
- high level of participation in employment: 86.3% (18-64-year-olds) (31/12/2017)
- high employment rate: 80.2% (31/12/2017)
- high proportion of public-sector employees: 34.1% (31.12.2017)
- high level of enterprise: 2 599 companies (31/12/2018)
- many one-person, part-time and small businesses
- over 1 500 are employed in Åland companies (mainly in shipping) but reside outside Åland
Links:
Ahvenanmaa pähkinänkuoressa | |
Ahvenanmaan tilasto- ja tutkimustoimisto (ÅSUB) | |
Ahvenanmaan matkailuneuvonta | |
Ammattibarometri |
Demand for labour in Åland is uneven over the year. During the summer, when tourism is in high season, there is a demand for labour in all service industries, hotels, restaurants, cafés, campsites, etc. The jobs are found throughout Åland, but the main focus is naturally Mariehamn. The demand for professional chefs and catering staff is particularly high. There is also a high demand for staff in various parts of the care sector.
During the winter months, demand is lower, but even then there is a demand for labour in the services sector. In the IT sector expansion has been strong in Åland for a long time and there is a demand for skilled labour there. However, the larger companies have expanded beyond Åland, and the jobs are therefore to be found in Helsinki, Turku or Stockholm. There is a growing demand in the construction industry, in particular for construction managers and various types of fitters. Within industry too, there is a demand for labour, but overall that sector is relatively small in Åland.
It is often difficult for both the private and the public sectors to recruit qualified staff for high-level positions.
Åland has long had a high level of participation in employment and low unemployment. Åland also has – like other Nordic countries – an unfavourable age structure with an ageing population and a declining proportion of the population in the labour force. This means that Åland is dependent on some labour immigration. The migration surplus has been positive for a long period. However, a good knowledge of Swedish is a prerequisite for succeeding on the Åland labour market.