1. Living and Working in Finland
Information for an EU Jobseeker
Finland
October 2008

2. 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

3. Introduction 5,3 million inhabitants parliamentary republic since 1917
neighbouring countries: Sweden, Norway, Russia, Estonia
two official languages: Finnish (92%) and Swedish (5,5%)
religions: Evangelical-Lutherans (81,8%), Orthodoxs (1,1%)
member of the EU since 1995
foreign citizens 2,5% (mainly in Helsinki metropolitan area)
currency: Euro

4. Economic structure Employed persons by industry, 2nd quarter 2007
Industry (19%) consists of metal and engineering products (48%), forest products (16%), consumer goods (11%) & other manufactured items (25%)
Source: Statistics Finland

5. Characteristics of the Finnish labour market
75% of employees work under a permanent full time contract
Some 15% of employees work under a fixed-term contract, c. two thirds of these are women
Women generally participate in the labour market, their employment rate being about 71%. Women are also mainly full-time employees.
Part-time jobs are not common – only about 10% of all jobs are part-time
Some 75% of workers belong to a trade union
Labour shortages and unemployment commonly occur simultaneously in the Finnish labour market
Source: Statistics Finland 2008/07

6. Characteristics of the Finnish labour market
Employment and unemployment in July 2008
Number of employed persons 27,000 higher than one year earlier
Employment rate 73,4% (OECD/ILO definition)
Unemployment rate 5,2%, unemployed (OECD/ILO definition)
new vacancies at employment offices (02/2008)
Source: Labour Force Survey of Statistics Finland

7. Regional
labour
market
situation
(2007)

9. Labour shortages recruitment problems are increasing
problems occur mostly in Helsinki metropolitan area and other larger cities
most problematic fields: metal, construction, transport, health care, hotel and catering, services
TOP 10 Shortages (May 2008)
nurse - sales representative
practical nurse - newspaper deliver
cleaner - machinist (CNC, NC)
articulated vehicle driver - berry picker
- cook/chef - hairdresser/barber

10. International recruitment
the EU enlargement in 2004 and the growing recruitment problems activated the international recruitment cooperation
still only about 2% of the Finnish employers looked for the foreign workforce in 2006
foreign workers are mainly recruited from Estonia, Poland and Russia

11. International recruitment
many of the Estonian workers in Finland are commuters (distance between Helsinki-Tallinn 80 km)
the ageing of the work force affects already on the offer, but especially after 2010
labour force is needed most urgently in construction and care work, as well as in services and industrial work

12. Searching for a job National labour administration: www.mol.fi
National labour administration:
EURES Portal:
Academic recruitment services:
Companies often recruit through their own internet sites.
Typical address is:
List of 100 largest Finnish companies:
Vacancies in the largest newspapers
Private recruitment agencies e.g
Direct contact with employers!

13. Standard application procedures
CV and application letter - possibly also copies of school leaving certificates and references
examples of CVs:
employers usually choose 3 to 5 applicants to be interviewed
certificates and references will be studied closely
for demanding posts usually 2 to 3 interviews will be conducted; possible also an aptitude test
some employers make only the final selection - the rest of the recruitment process may be outsourced

14. Practical training and studying
many practical training opportunities for international students and recent graduates in Finland
Centre for International Mobility (CIMO) organizes many of the practical training programmes - see also student organisations like ELSA, IAAS, IFMSA, AIESEC
Master Thesis/ Thesis co-operation available
degree studying (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) is free of charge
More information:
CIMO - Centre for International Mobility

15. 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 (1200), France (900), Spain (700), Poland (450) and Italy (400)
Finland was one of the most popular destination countries for exchange students (8th among 31 countries)
University of Helsinki received nearly 500 students alone

16. 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:

17. Moving to Finland - First steps
EU registration at the local police:
Population register and home municipality at the magistrate/registration office:
Social security at the local social insurance office:
If employed: Tax card at the local tax office
If unemployed: Employment office

18. Transferring unemployment benefits / E 303 -form
Contact your employment office in your home country well before your departure to Finland and ask for the E 303 -form
Register at the employment office in Finland within 7 days on your arrival and show the E 303 -form (the employment office signs the form)
Hand out the form to the Kela office
Open a bank account

19. Finnish unemployment benefits
Documents concerning work and education history
E 301- form
1) The unemployment allowance (employment condition 10 months)
Basic allowance (social insurance, Kela)
Earnings-related (unemployment funds, e.g )
2) The labour market subsidy
Integration assistance to immigrants
For a single person: 24,51 €/day (in 2008)
(basic allowance and labour market subsidy)
(earnings-related)

20. Terms of Employment
Collective agreements specifying pay rates for various sectors
If there is no collective agreement (e.g. domestic helpers), the salary should be at least 980,40 €/month (in 2008)
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!

21. Examples of gross incomes
Private sector (2006):
IT Programmer € / month
Carpenter € / month
Hairdresser/Barber € / month
Truck driver € / month
Public sector (2007):
Cleaner € / month
Class teacher € /month
Nurse € / month
Librarian € / month
An average Finnish salary €/month (2008, 2nd quarter)
Source: Statistics Finland

22. Taxation Income tax: Up to 6 months: tax at source 35%
Income tax:
Up to 6 months: tax at source 35%
NB! Tax deduction of 510 € each month or 17 € per day for each working day
More than 6 months: progressive income tax
For an average Finnish salary €/month ( €/year):
the share of taxes and compulsory contributions is between 21 and 26.5 %*
More information:
* local taxes vary from one city/municipality to the other; in addition, members of the Finnish Lutheran/ Orthodox church pay a church tax (1 – 2,25%)

23. Accommodation Where to look for?
Where to look for?
Internet portals:
Yellow pages:
Private companies: e.g.
Newspapers:
Information about housing in Finland:
Municipalities in Finland:
Youth hostels:

24. Accommodation How much will it cost? Examples :
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

25. Further information: Welcome to Finland!
Information of living and working, vacancies:
Detailed information for foreign workers:
Studying and practical training:
General information:
Welcome to Finland!