Living and Working in Finland Employment and Economic Development Office Kouvola Joensuu Employment and Economic Development Office

Living and Working in Finland Contents  Introduction  Labour market situation  Searching for a job  Training and studying  Moving to Finland  Living and working conditions  Where to find further information Employment and Economic Development Office

-5,3 million inhabitants -parliamentary republic since neighbouring countries: Sweden, Norway, Russia, Estonia -two official languages: Finnish (90,9%) and Swedish (5,4%) -religions: Evangelical-Lutherans (80,7%), Orthodoxs (1,1%) -member of the EU since currency: Euro Introduction Employment and Economic Development Office

Source: Statistics Finland Employed persons by sector 2nd quarter 2009

Characteristics of the Finnish labour market  75% of employees work under a permanent+full time contract  Women generally participate in the labour market, their employment rate being about 71%.  Some 75% of workers belong to a trade union  21 % are part time jobs Source: Statistics Finland Employment and Economic Development Office

Characteristics of the Finnish labour market Employment and unemployment in January 2010  Number of employed persons 87,000 less than one year earlier  Employment rate 65,5%  Unemployment rate 9,5%, unemployed  new vacancies at employment offices, less than one year earlier Source: Employment Bulletin, Ministry of Employment and the Economy Employment and Economic Development Office

Regional labour market situation (2009) Employment and Economic Development Office RATIO OF THE UNEMPLOYED JOBSEEKERS OF THE LABOUR FORCE BY MUNICIPALITY

Employment and Economic Development Office

Labour shortages most problematic sectors: health care and services TOP 10 Shortages (May 2009) - registered nurse- hairdresser/barber - practical nurse- cleaner - waitress- taxi driver - cook/chef- sales representative - sales agent- telesales person Employment and Economic Development Office

 National labour administration:  EURES Portal:  Companies often recruit through their own internet sites. List of 100 largest Finnish companies:  Private recruitment agencies e.g  Direct contact with employers! Searching for a job Employment and Economic Development Office

Language skills requirements  Finnish usually required, in some areas Swedish In English may manage for example: seasonal gardening, berry picking, kitchen work IT, engineering, international business, research Employment and Economic Development Office

Standard application procedures  CV and application letter – by  examples of CVs:  employers usually choose 3 to 5 applicants to be interviewed Employment and Economic Development Office

International student mobility  Finland has 20 universities and 30 polytechnics  over 400 study programmes are taught in English in Finnish higher education  ERASMUS student mobility in academic year : appr foreign students to Finland, mostly from Germany (1080), France (880), Spain (760), Poland (482) and Italy (394)  Finland was one of the most popular destination countries for exchange students (7 th among 31 countries) Employment and Economic Development Office

Recognition of qualifications Finnish National Board of Education (OPH)  Contact before coming to Finland  recognition required for posts in public sector  not required for private sector, unless the profession in question is regulated (e.g. electricians, pilots)  Right to practise profession needed for the following professions: health care professionals, veterinary surgeons, chartered public finance auditors, chartered accountants, advocates, seafarers  Different authorities grant the right  More information: Employment and Economic Development Office

 EU registration at the local police:  Population register and home municipality at the Local Register Office:  Social security at the local social insurance office:  If employed: Tax card at the local tax office Moving to Finland - First steps Employment and Economic Development Office

 Collective agreements specifying pay rates for various sectors  If there is no collective agreement (e.g. domestic helpers), the salary should be at least €/month (in 2009)  Regular working hours are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with two days' leave per calendar month worked  More information: Ask for the employment contract in written form! Terms of Employment Employment and Economic Development Office

 Private sector (2008):  IT Programmer € / month  Carpenter € / month  Hairdresser/Barber € / month  Truck driver € / month  Public sector (2008):  Cleaner € / month  Class teacher € /month  Nurse € / month  Librarian € / month An average Finnish salary €/month (2008, 4th quarter) (a zlotys)S ource: Statistics Finland Examples of gross incomes Employment and Economic Development Office

 Income tax:  Up to 6 months: tax at source 35% - deduction of 510 euros  More than 6 months: progressive income tax  Average Finnish salary taxes/compulsory contributions % ( city/municipality local taxes + church tax (1– 2,25% varies)  More information: Taxation Employment and Economic Development Office

How much will it cost? Examples :  Average rent for a two room flat: 400 – 700 €/month  Average price for a two room flat: – €  In Helsinki metropolitan area the prices are considerably higher, in the countryside considerably lower Accommodation Employment and Economic Development Office Where to look for? Internet portals:  Private companies: e.g.  Newspapers:  Youth hostels:

Milk 1 l1 euro Beer 0,4 l5 euros Hamburger Mc Donalds 2,5 euros Jeans 80 euros Bus ticket2,80 Cinema ticket 9 euros Some other prices: Employment and Economic Development Office

 Information of living and working, vacancies:  Detailed information for foreign workers: Further information: Employment and Economic Development Office

Thank You ! EURES-advisers Taru Asikainen Helena Sommarberg Employment and Economic Development Office