Finland Needs Foreign Professionals to Fill Key Positions: Full List of Job Shortages

According to the latest report from the European Labour Authority, Finland is experiencing a shortage of workers in 33 different occupations across the country.

These shortages span various professions, including healthcare, the food service industry, engineering, IT, construction, and metal processing.

In addition to these shortages, the working-age population in Finland is expected to decrease in the upcoming years, based on an earlier projection from EURES. This demographic shift means that foreigners seeking employment in Finland may have a better chance of obtaining a Finnish work visa.

The 2023 EURES report on shortages and surpluses highlights that healthcare is among the most affected sectors in Finland. However, other industries are also grappling with significant shortages. The shortage occupations identified in this report include:

• Home-based personal care workers

• Health care assistants

• Child care workers

• Dental assistants and therapists

• Social work and counselling professionals

• Audiologists and speech therapists

• Dentists

• Nursing professionals

• Specialist medical practitioners

• Generalist medical practitioners

• Chefs, cooks, and fast food preparers

• Waiters

• Telecommunication engineers

• Electrical engineers

• Civil engineers

• Application programmers

• Web and multimedia developers

• Software developers

• Building construction labourers

• Construction supervisors

• Metal working machine tool setters and operators

• Sheet metal workers

• Welders and flame cutters

• Cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels, and other establishments

• Heavy truck and lorry drivers

• Mechanical machinery assemblers

• Plumbers and pipe fitters

• Building caretakers

• Accounting and bookkeeping clerks

• Special needs teachers and early childhood educators

Those intending to live and work in Finland may find it noteworthy that this country ranks among the richest and highest-paying countries in Europe. As of 2024, the minimum salary in Finland is about €1,800 per month.

Meanwhile, the average gross salary is estimated at €4,250 per month. However, the average salary can vary significantly depending on the sector, level of education, work experience, and location within Finland, among other factors. For instance, average wages tend to be higher in the Helsinki metropolitan area due to the concentration of higher-paying industries and cost of living adjustments.

Indications that the highest-paying professions in Finland include medical doctors, surgeons, executives and senior managers, IT specialists, banking and finance experts, lawyers, aviation pilots, and engineering professionals.

Regarding work visas, third-country nationals are required to obtain a visa to move to Finland for employment purposes. On the other hand, citizens of the following countries do not need a work visa: EU/EFTA, Nordic countries, the US, New Zealand, Australia, San Marino, the Vatican, Andorra, and Japan.

By fLEXI tEAM