Live and Work in Fantastic Finland!

When you think of Finland, you probably picture snow, saunas, and Santa Claus. That’s all true, of course, but there’s so much more to discover in the Land of a Thousand Lakes.
Finland is a land of tremendous natural beauty, with vast green forests, clear blue lakes, and stunning untouched islands. Reindeer, bears, elk, and wolves roam free up north in Lapland, while down south around Helsinki, a thriving urban economy booms.
With its high salaries, excellent workers’ rights, developed infrastructure, and stunning nature, Finland is a fantastic place to live and work.

The Finnish economy

Father Christmas may be Finland’s most famous resident, but Helsinki is home to many other household names, too. From here, Nokia dominated the early mobile phone industry. Today, Rovio (creators of Angry Birds) and Supercell (creators of Clash of Clans) are the biggest names in mobile gaming. And Linus Torvalds’ Linux has long been at the forefront of the open source revolution.
It’s not all phones and computers, though. Finland has a modern mixed economy. Its main sectors include financial and business services, electronics, metals, automotive engineering, shipbuilding, textiles, and forestry. The average income is €40,600 gross – that’s €30,100 after taxes. The unemployment rate is currently 9.2% and forecast to fall below pre-2008 levels of 5.9% by 2025.

What jobs are currently in demand in Finland?

For the foreseeable future, there will be a large demand for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in Finland. There are opportunities for many workers with high and medium level qualifications, including those seeking work in the engineering, science, teaching, and business sectors. There’s also a demand for researchers, craftspeople (carpenters, electricians, etc.), and entrepreneurs.

Here are some useful resources to help you find the right job for you:
TE Palvelut Services
EURES

Will I need to learn Finnish?

For most jobs, basic Finnish is a necessity. However, many jobs will provide free or cheap language classes, and it is estimated that you can pick up enough for most workplaces with six months’ intensive study. With that said, some specialist workers (e.g. IT experts) will be able to find a job in an English-speaking environment.

Cost of living

The cost of living in Finland is higher than in many places in Europe, but cheaper than more expensive cities like London, Dublin, Paris, or Amsterdam. Things are most expensive in Helsinki, where a one-bedroom city centre apartment will cost you roughly €960 a month, plus €125 a month on utilities and internet. A monthly travel pass is €55. Eating and drinking out are expensive. A meal out for two in a typical restaurant can cost between €25 and €70, and a pint of local beer will cost €6.

What documentation do I need to live and work in Finland?

EU and EEA citizens can work without restrictions if they register their right of residence. Non-EEA citizens’ rights are dependent on finding gainful employment. There are many different types of work permits available (for specialists, researchers, au pairs, self-employed people, etc.). You can find more detailed information here.

Life in Finland

Finland has four very different seasons. Yes, there’s snow in Helsinki from December to March, and temperatures can plummet to -30 degrees Celsius. But the Finnish summer is warmer than you might imagine, with some summer days even reaching into the mid-30s. In the capital, days can stretch to almost 19 hours long – and the Finns take full advantage of it. Winter days there can have as little as six hours of daylight. Up north, the sun barely appears before it sets again, but the phenomenal views of the northern lights make it all worthwhile.
Saunas can help to get you through the colder times. There are 1.5 million saunas in a country of 5.5 million people, a statistic that tells you how central they are to Finnish life. Other popular pastimes include winter sports (ice hockey, skiing, snowboarding), sailing, and dining out.
The Finnish people famously shun small talk, but once you do break the ice, you will find warm-hearted, funny, sincere people who believe in deep human connections. Words carry meaning there, so if someone asks you to head out for a coffee some time, they mean it, so be sure to take them up on it!

Does Finland sound like the right fit for you? If you decide to start searching for jobs in the Land of a Thousand Lakes, we here at Euspert wish you the best of luck!