Finland’s public-sector Work in Finland platform today kicked off its two-day TalentMatch x Tech & IT fair, an all-online event aimed at pairing Finnish employers with international software, AI, cybersecurity and micro-electronics specialists. The free event combines a virtual job-fair floor with curated one-to-one matchmaking meetings, expert panels on relocation and CV tips, and city showcases from Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Turku, Vantaa and Oulu.
Now in its third year, TalentMatch has become a pillar of Finland’s Talent Boost immigration strategy, which seeks to address an acute shortage of 15 000–20 000 ICT professionals by 2030. More than 1 500 pre-screened foreign candidates registered in the first 48 hours, with demand highest from India, Nigeria and Brazil. Recruiters from 60 Finnish companies—including Nokia, KONE and growth-stage start-ups—are offering both on-site and remote roles; many mid-sized firms report that 20–30 % of hires now come through TalentMatch leads.
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Unlike traditional fairs, all sessions run in English and are time-zoned for North-America-to-Asia coverage. A new feature this year is a “Relocation Clinic” staffed by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce, where candidates can book ten-minute slots to clarify work-permit questions and family-reunification rules. Organisers say this reduces employer uncertainty about lead-times—currently six to eight weeks for fast-track permits.
For municipalities, the event is also a talent-marketing showcase. Cities highlight subsidised daycare, English-language schooling and spouse-employment programmes in a bid to convert short-term hires into long-term residents, supporting the government’s goal of net-positive migration by 2028. HR managers advise companies to reserve interview slots early and prepare for hybrid-work requests: 42 % of pre-screened candidates said they prefer to work remotely from abroad for the first three to six months before relocating.
Now in its third year, TalentMatch has become a pillar of Finland’s Talent Boost immigration strategy, which seeks to address an acute shortage of 15 000–20 000 ICT professionals by 2030. More than 1 500 pre-screened foreign candidates registered in the first 48 hours, with demand highest from India, Nigeria and Brazil. Recruiters from 60 Finnish companies—including Nokia, KONE and growth-stage start-ups—are offering both on-site and remote roles; many mid-sized firms report that 20–30 % of hires now come through TalentMatch leads.
Unlike traditional fairs, all sessions run in English and are time-zoned for North-America-to-Asia coverage. A new feature this year is a “Relocation Clinic” staffed by the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce, where candidates can book ten-minute slots to clarify work-permit questions and family-reunification rules. Organisers say this reduces employer uncertainty about lead-times—currently six to eight weeks for fast-track permits.
For municipalities, the event is also a talent-marketing showcase. Cities highlight subsidised daycare, English-language schooling and spouse-employment programmes in a bid to convert short-term hires into long-term residents, supporting the government’s goal of net-positive migration by 2028. HR managers advise companies to reserve interview slots early and prepare for hybrid-work requests: 42 % of pre-screened candidates said they prefer to work remotely from abroad for the first three to six months before relocating.
