1. Living and Working in Finland Information for an EU Jobseeker
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Helsinki/Finland
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

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
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

3. Introduction 5,4 million inhabitants Parliamentary republic since 1917
Neighbouring countries: Sweden, Norway, Russia, Estonia
Two official languages: Finnish (90%) and Swedish (5,4%)
Religions: Evangelical-Lutherans (77,3%), Orthodoxs (1,1%)
Member of the EU since 1995
Foreign citizens 3,6% (mainly in Helsinki metropolitan area)
Currency: Euro
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

4. Biggest cities - number of inhabitants Helsinki 604 000 Espoo 257 000
Tampere 217 000
Vantaa 205 000
Oulu 191 000
Turku
Jyväskylä
Kuopio
Lahti
Four seasons - cold winters and warm summers
2012 extremes:
-42.7 °C (Inari) °C (Lieksa)
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

5. Finnish labour market
76 % of employees work under a permanent full time contract
9 % of employees work under a fixed-term contract
11 % of employees have part-time contract
Women participate in the labour market whereas men. Employment rate for women is 68 %
70% of workers belong to a trade union
Labour shortages and unemployment commonly occur simultaneously in the Finnish labour market
Source: Statistics Finland 02/2013
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

6. Finnish labour market Employment rate 67,6 % in February 2013
Unemployment rate 8,7 % in February 2013
new vacancies at the Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) on average every month (2012)
Number of employed persons less than a year ago
Source: Statistics Finland 2013, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, 2013
(OECD/ILO definition)
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

7. Regional labour market situation
UNEMPLOYED JOBSEEKERS’ PERCENTAGE
OF THE WORKFORCE
BY MUNICIPALITY
ANNUAL AVERAGE 2012
% (number)
Source:
Ministry of Employment and the Economy,
Employment Service Statistics 2013
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

8.
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

9. Labour shortages registered nurses medical doctors
Most problematic situation:
health care sector, service sector, social services and catering
TOP 10 Shortages 2013
registered nurses
medical doctors
sales representatives
accounting staff
psychologist
cooks/chefs
cleaners
physiotherapist
social workers
waiters
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

10. Foreigners in Finland 3,6 % of the population are foreigners (195 511)
Biggest nationality groups are Estonians (39 763), Russians (30 183), Swedes (8 412) and Somalis (7 468)
The sectors with most foreign workers are services and construction. As seasonal workers in agriculture and forestry
foreign jobseekers in the TE Offices, which is 8 % of all the jobseekers
Source: Statistics Finland 02/2013, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, 2013
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

11. Source: Statistic Finland 2013
Foreigners in Finland (2012)
Source: Statistic Finland 2013
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

12. Searching for a job
Employment and Economic Development Office - vacancies:
Vacancies in the largest newspapers
Academic recruitment services:
Companies often recruit through their own internet sites.
Typical address is:
List of 100 largest Finnish companies:
Private recruitment agencies e.g
Direct contact with employers!
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

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; also an aptitude test is possible
Some employers make only the final selection - the rest of the recruitment process may be outsourced
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

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’s Thesis/ Thesis co-operation available
Degree studying (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) is free of charge
More information:
CIMO - Centre for International Mobility
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

15. International student mobility
Finland has 16 universities and 25 polytechnics
Over 350 study programmes are taught in English in higher education institutes
In 2010 appr students came to Finland, mostly from Germany (1235), France (1208), Spain (896), Italy (522), Russia (425) and Poland (372)
89 % of the international students are generally happy or very happy with their Finnish institution of higher education and study in Finland
Finland is one of the most popular destination countries for exchange students (10th among 31 countries)
Source: Centre for International Mobility CIMO 2013
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

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:
Different authorities grant the right
More information:
Health care professionals
Chartered public finance auditors
Veterinary surgeons
Advocates
Chartered accountants
Seafarers
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

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 and Economic Development Office (TE Office)
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

18. Transferring unemployment benefits / U2-form
Contact your employment office in your home country well before your departure to Finland and ask for the U2-form
Register at the Employment and Economic Development Office (TE Office) in Finland within 7 days on your arrival and show the U2-form
The Finnish TE office will give a statement to your home country and you will get your unemployment benefit normally to your own bank account (like you would get it at home)
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

19. 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 €/month in 2013)
Regular working hours are 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with two days' leave per calendar month worked
More information: ˃ labour legislation
Ask for the employment contract in written form!
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

20. Examples of gross incomes
Engineer € / month
Carpenter € / month
Secretary – € / month
Bus driver € / month
Cleaner – € / month
Shop assistant – € /month
Medical nurse € / month
Social worker € / month
An average Finnish salary is 3109 € / month (2011)
Source: Statistics Finland
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

21. Taxation 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
Example: the share of all taxes and compulsory contributions (incl. social security payments 7,1 %)
Salary 2500 €/month → tax 26 %*
Salary 3000 €/month → tax 29 %*
More information:
* Local taxes vary from one city/municipality to the other; members of the
Finnish Lutheran/Orthodox church pay a church tax (1 – 2,25%)
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

22. Costs of living - Accommodation
Average rent for a two room flat (50 m²): 500 – 800 €/month
Average price for a two room flat: – €
In Helsinki metropolitan area the prices are twice as much
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

23. Accommodation - More information
Internet portals:
Newspapers:
Housing in Finland:
Municipalities in Finland:
Youth hostels:
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

24. Costs of living Food and beverage Milk 1 litre 0,87 € Eggs kg 3,93 €
Bread kg 3,56 €
Coffee 500 g 4,11 €
Beer 1,80 €
Public and private transport
Petrol 95 E/ 1litre 1,67 €
Train trip 400 km 60 €
Bus card, 1 month 46 €
Source: Statistics Finland, National Consumer Research Centre
Others Kindergarten €/month Library free of charge Cinema ticket €
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

25. Further information EURES portal eures.europa.eu
Ministry of Employment and the Economy
Foreigners working in Finland
Studying and practical training in Finland
General information on Finland
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

26.
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto

27. Photos by VisitFinland.com Mediabank
Welcome to Finland!
Photos by VisitFinland.com Mediabank
Employment and Economic Development Office of Uusimaa, Finland European Job Days 2013 in Porto