Top 9 Jobs in Finland Currently Hiring Foreign Workers

Summary: Finland Lists 9 Most Needed Jobs for Foreign Workers

1. The Finnish government has identified nine job fields currently facing worker shortages.

2. Skilled foreign professionals in these fields are encouraged to apply to help meet demand.

3. Most of these in-demand jobs are in healthcare and medicine.

Like many European countries, Finland is struggling with labour shortages. To address this, the government has released a list of nine job roles that are most urgently needed.

The list includes:

• General doctors and medical specialists

• Audiologists and speech therapists

• Metal machine operators

• Nurses and nursing aides

• Dental hygienists

• Funeral workers

• Firefighters

Most of these jobs require specific qualifications, such as degrees or certifications.

Changes in Finland’s Work Permit System

Finland issues work-based residence permits when suitable workers can't be found locally or in the EU. Foreigners can apply for these permits to fill those gaps.

The shortage list is updated regularly. To be included, a profession must have at least 50 open jobs and at least 500 trained workers available.

However, upcoming changes to immigration rules could make it harder for unemployed permit holders to stay in Finland. They may be required to leave the country sooner than before if they lose their job.

Fewer Foreign Workers Are Applying

There’s also been a noticeable drop in work permit applications. In 2023, Finland issued about 42,200 permits — nearly 14% less than in 2022. The trend continued into 2024, with even fewer applications submitted.

The IT sector, while still popular, has also seen a decline in interest and a drop in permits issued. According to Tomi Husa from labour federation Akava, this is partly due to a rise in unemployment among tech graduates.

Still, experts say that foreign workers could greatly benefit Finland’s economy, especially by boosting exports. Immigration could play a key role in supporting the country’s workforce in the coming years.