Finnish business daily Kauppalehti reports that nearly half of all companies operating in Finland already employ foreign nationals, according to a new survey by staffing firm Barona. The poll, highlighted in Yle’s Wednesday press review, shows that 45 percent of firms have at least one non-Finnish employee, and more than one in ten workers nationwide now has a foreign background.
Recruiters say the main driver is an acute skills gap in ICT, health care and advanced manufacturing. Despite unemployment topping 10 percent in October, respondents told Barona that they “simply cannot find the right competencies among Finnish applicants”. The data dovetail with separate Migri statistics showing that specialist permits—though fewer this year—still make up the largest share of approvals.
![Survey: 45 % of Finnish Employers Now Hire International Staff as Skill Shortages Bite]()
Employers are also broadening search horizons: whereas German and Estonian hires once dominated, HR teams now tap candidates from India, the Philippines and Brazil, helped by Finland’s fast-track D-visa scheme. Barona notes a 60 percent jump in companies offering English-only onboarding and a doubling of requests for relocation support such as apartment hunting and spouse integration.
For mobility managers, the findings reinforce the need for robust cross-cultural training and clear communication on Finland’s evolving residence-permit rules. Firms that provide Finnish language tuition, daycare access and assistance navigating the Kela social-security system report higher retention, especially outside Helsinki where support networks are thinner.
Policy makers view the internationalisation wave as essential to offset Finland’s ageing population. Yet trade unions warn that without quicker credential recognition and anti-discrimination measures, foreign hires may gravitate to short-term contracts and leave within two years—undercutting productivity gains. A parliamentary working group is due to publish recommendations on skills-based immigration before Christmas.
Recruiters say the main driver is an acute skills gap in ICT, health care and advanced manufacturing. Despite unemployment topping 10 percent in October, respondents told Barona that they “simply cannot find the right competencies among Finnish applicants”. The data dovetail with separate Migri statistics showing that specialist permits—though fewer this year—still make up the largest share of approvals.
Employers are also broadening search horizons: whereas German and Estonian hires once dominated, HR teams now tap candidates from India, the Philippines and Brazil, helped by Finland’s fast-track D-visa scheme. Barona notes a 60 percent jump in companies offering English-only onboarding and a doubling of requests for relocation support such as apartment hunting and spouse integration.
For mobility managers, the findings reinforce the need for robust cross-cultural training and clear communication on Finland’s evolving residence-permit rules. Firms that provide Finnish language tuition, daycare access and assistance navigating the Kela social-security system report higher retention, especially outside Helsinki where support networks are thinner.
Policy makers view the internationalisation wave as essential to offset Finland’s ageing population. Yet trade unions warn that without quicker credential recognition and anti-discrimination measures, foreign hires may gravitate to short-term contracts and leave within two years—undercutting productivity gains. A parliamentary working group is due to publish recommendations on skills-based immigration before Christmas.
