The most in-demand professions in Finland: 5 attractive niches for foreigners

A significant percentage of Russians are considering the prospect of employment in Finland. The country, which is located in Northern Europe, attracts migrants with high salaries and a wide range of social guarantees. But does the average salary in Finland really meet modern standards and is it enough for a comfortable life? Not all foreign job seekers think about the situation on the labor market and whether it is possible to find a well-paid job in the specified EU state.

Economic situation in the country

Despite the fact that Finland is still feeling the consequences of the crisis, which is reflected in the reduction of production volumes and the closure of a number of industrial enterprises, the authorities are actively fighting unemployment. Currently, its size varies from 8 to 10%. Moreover, local employers are interested in attracting highly qualified and experienced workers from abroad and are ready to offer them a decent standard of living in Finland. The country's food and timber processing industries and shipbuilding are gradually being restored. The supply of telecommunications equipment and electronics is also being established, and new agricultural enterprises are opening.

Cleaning service

Interestingly, in Finland, cleaners usually have a special education (they receive it at school) and a driver’s license. If the employer can still ignore the first requirement, then the ability to drive a vehicle is a prerequisite for employment in a cleaning company. Tariffs in this area range from 7 to 10 € per hour (500–700 rubles), average earnings for 1 month are 1.9 thousand euros (more than 135 thousand rubles).

Finland is in need of labor resources, but has strict requirements for applicants for vacancies. Employment will be more successful if the applicant has the appropriate qualifications, work experience, and knowledge of the language.

Features of the labor market in Finland

In the foreseeable future, the demand for foreign labor will shift from the service sector to the manufacturing sector. But so far, about 75% of visiting job seekers are employed in the unskilled labor segment. Moreover, high-paying jobs in Finland are not always available for Russians, since competition in the labor market is quite serious. Even for the vacancy of a nurse, about 70-80 applicants from abroad can apply. Unemployed Finns in 99% of cases consider jobs that require qualified specialists who are well paid, and the prospect of working as a janitor does not suit them a priori.

Professions in demand in Finland in 2021

The country faces an acute shortage of personnel with a sufficient level of professionalism and extensive work experience. We are always looking for specialists who are experts in areas such as:

• programming;
• medicine;
• pedagogy;
• finance/banking;
• jurisprudence.

Moreover, local employers give preference to those applicants who speak the national and English languages.

But in-demand professions in Finland are not limited to the above list. The country willingly hires as subordinates those who do not disdain to engage in unskilled labor - waiters, bartenders, cleaners, nurses, couriers, gardeners.

A huge number of foreigners come to the country to work when the harvest of berries or vegetables ripens. Farm owners are willing to pay blueberry or radish pickers for every hour of work, making minimal demands on migrants.

Seasonal work

This is the most in-demand job in Finland without language skills. Many Russians go to Finland every year for this type of work, and in parallel with work they also have time to see the northern country, enjoy its nature and even relax.

List of the most popular vacancies among Russians:

• wild berry and mushroom picker;
• picker for a strawberry plantation;
• worker in the field (planting seedlings, cultivating the land);
• worker in a greenhouse;
• farm worker;
• snow cleaner.

Typically, a seasonal worker receives from 1000 € to 2500 € monthly. Meals and accommodation are paid for by the employer.

Picking strawberries and raspberries costs up to 30 € per shift, taking into account the number of berries. Income from picking wild berries and mushrooms is affected by productivity.

Prices

For work in a greenhouse they receive 90 € per shift. At the same time, you do not need to pay for accommodation and food. Schedule: 6 working days and 1 day off. Sometimes they work for 7 days. This is often shift work. The age of applicants is not limited; men and women without knowledge of the language are accepted.

The snow remover often works in the morning, from 5 o'clock, regardless of the weather. Schedule: 6 working days and 1 day off. Responsibilities include cleaning sidewalks and bike paths. Payment of 80€ per shift is provided. We accept men aged 20 to 55 years.

Salary rates

Compared to most EU countries, Finland is distinguished by high remuneration for work performed by foreign labor. The salary size is influenced by traditional criteria:

• presence of experience;
• qualification level;
• knowledge of foreign language;
• nature of work (field of activity);
• availability of financial incentive mechanisms;
• region in which the employee performs official duties.

The salary level in Finland depends on another significant factor. Domestic legislation provides for additional remuneration for overtime work (the first 2 hours - in the amount of 0.5 salary, subsequent ones - in the amount of the full salary).

Salaries by profession

Qualified personnel with work experience and knowledge of a foreign language can count on higher remuneration from Finnish employers than foreigners employed in the service sector.

When analyzing salaries in Finland by specialty, foreign applicants should take into account that salaries in the public sector are higher than in private companies.

Video: My salary in Finland! Construction work

Minimum wage

From a formal point of view, there is no lower threshold for the monthly income of an employee. The minimum wage in Finland is a conditional category, the size of which depends 80% on the field of activity in which the subordinate is involved. Currently, the lower threshold of remuneration for labor approximately reaches 1.9 thousand euros.

The question of how much an employee receives at a particular enterprise is decided within the framework of a collective agreement signed between the employer and his employees.

If local regulations do not contain recommendations on what nominal amount should be paid to a subordinate for work, the head of the company adheres to general indicators, but not lower than the average salary level for the industry. The financial interests of workers are protected by trade unions, so manipulation of wages at enterprises is strictly suppressed.

average salary

This indicator varies depending on the segment of the domestic labor market. In 2021, the average salary in Finland is about 3.3 thousand euros. According to employers at the federal level, it reaches 3.7 thousand euros, and at the regional level - 2.9 thousand euros. Ambiguous data is provided by commercial enterprises that claim that the average salary in Finland is 3.4 thousand euros.

Maximum

The first positions in the ranking of the highest paid professions are held by top managers working in the public administration system. They receive a substantial remuneration for their work - about 7.5-8 thousand euros per month. But the Finns are trying to prevent foreigners from running the country. It is also difficult for applicants who come from another state to count on vacancies in supervisory structures (customs, tax inspection), since they are subject to increased requirements.

For foreigners in 2021, the priority of highly paid specialties has shifted towards medicine and engineering. But specialists in the field of jurisprudence and banking began to receive less, although their work still brings in a solid income.

Salary by city and region

Those applicants who are looking for work in the capital of Finland can apply for maximum salaries. The average salary in Helsinki is 3.8 thousand euros. High salaries for foreign specialists are provided in large settlements - Turku, Kuopio, Jyväskylä.

In small provinces there is a lack of variety of job opportunities, and the remuneration offered by local employers is not respectable.

Procedure for obtaining a work visa to Finland

In order not to be refused, you need to read the step-by-step instructions for submitting documents and strictly follow them:

1. Search for an employer.
2. Preparation of documents from the receiving party.
3. Sending an invitation to the applicant.
4. Sign up to submit a package of documents.
5. Submission to the embassy or consulate.
6. Consideration and decision-making on extradition.
7. Obtaining a passport with a visa or refusal.

In accordance with the law, you must submit papers in person to submit biometric data. But you can still contact the agency. For example, FinTrip managers will help you collect all the necessary documents, arrange insurance and fill out the application form correctly.

Tax system

Both residents and non-residents of the country are required to donate part of their income from work to the state treasury. The subordinate pays contributions to:

• maintenance of the church;
• municipal budget;
• social insurance;
• unemployment fund;
• Pension Fund.

Finland has a progressive taxation system, which eliminates the risk of large-scale social inequality.

Foreigners engaged in seasonal work pay fees according to a simplified scheme (Lähdevero). If the amount of remuneration for work does not exceed 17 euros per day, then the migrant is exempt from contributions to the budget; for others, the tax rate is 35%.

Income tax

Everyone who belongs to the category of subordinates is obligated to pay. Income taxes consist of church taxes and health insurance contributions. The amount of the fee depends on marital status, the presence of children and the volume of occupied living space. Salary taxes in Finland are calculated on a progressive scale.

Social contributions

Employers are required to transfer amounts for insurance against industrial accidents (0.1-7%) for their subordinates, as well as in case of risk of illness in an employee (0.7%). Moreover, the choice of insurance company depends on the individual preferences of the head of the enterprise in which the employee performs official duties.

I'm ready for any job

A person may be ready, but this is not enough. Students are most often hired to carry heavy loads, clean streets, wash hotel rooms, and work in restaurants. This job market is divided between students who work part-time for a few hours a day (or even a week), refugees, and their own low-skilled workers.

In order to work as a loader or cleaner you must:

• already live in Finland (very rarely, practically never a residence permit is given for such work);
• know the language;
• have the appropriate certificate.

Yes, their own movers are certified. I will say this - for a Russian to come, get a job as a janitor and get a residence permit - it’s akin to winning a million in the lottery. There is one chance in a million that this will work. Civil marriage in Finland - what does it mean? A foreigner can be hired only when there are vacancies that their citizens do not want to take. The state must be confident that it does not curtail the interests of its own citizens by employing foreigners.

There is a high demand for such hard and low-skilled work among the unemployed. If you already have a residence permit and have been living in Finland for a long time, it will be much easier to get such a job. Would you like to marry a Finn?

Salary to living expenses ratio

About 50% of visiting migrants, after paying taxes, receive 2-2.5 thousand euros per month, provided that the cost of living in Finland for a family is 1.7 thousand euros. The main expense items for them are:

• rental housing (700-800 euros/month - 1 room apartment in a residential area of ​​the city);
• utilities (50-100 euros/month);
• Internet (40-50 euros/month);
• food (300-500 euros/month);
• clothes (200-300 euros/month).

With proper management of his personal budget, a foreigner has the opportunity to save money or financially help relatives in his home country.