Measures of the Orpo Government concerning work-based immigration
Finland’s success and international competitiveness are based on high levels of skills and competence. However, the Finnish labour market suffers from a shortage of skilled workers. While employment must be provided to unemployed jobseekers already in Finland, the country also needs work-based immigration.
Measures to develop work-based immigration will continue to be taken during this government term too. The plan is to supplement the labour force primarily from EU/EEA countries, while also promoting international recruitment from third countries. Below you can find information on the Government’s measures and their progress.
Finland needs international workforce to respond to the labour market demand and the shortage of skilled workers. The work to develop the system of work-based immigration will continue during this government term so that Finland will be able to attract and retain international experts to come to work and build their lives here.
The Government will invest in promoting work-based immigration in many ways. The revised Talent Boost programme will promote the availability of experts, improve country branding and streamline residence permit processes. International recruitment activities will be effectively targeted at India, Brazil, Vietnam and the Philippines through a new partnership model in order to increase recruitment needs. The Government will also prepare an action plan to combat work-related exploitation in order to ensure that the Finnish labour market is safe for all.
Finland wants to retain the experts and their families who already live here or who will move here. It is essential that people moving to Finland from abroad feel welcome and quickly become part of the society.
The Government will examine and promote factors that help retain foreign workforce. These include investments in easy banking services, early childhood education and care in English and the availability of Finnish and Swedish language instruction. At the same time, in accordance with the Government’s equality statement published in autumn 2023, the receptiveness and ability of Finnish working life to utilise multiculturalism will be strengthened.
Finland’s success and international competitiveness are based on high levels of skills and competence. However, the Finnish labour market suffers from a shortage of skilled workers.
Promoting work-based immigration is a key means to respond to employers’ shortage of skilled labour. The growth in Finland’s working-age population during the 2000s has been solely driven by immigration. International experts also support innovations and the growth and internationalisation of Finnish companies and attract investments to Finland. Effective measures are needed because Finland competes for top talent with other countries.
Labour immigration is very important for Finland’s economic growth and the securing of services. In Finland, work-based residence is based on the right and obligation to work.
The Government will take a number of measures to strengthen the tie between work-based residence permits and work, increase the monitoring of work-based immigration and prevent abuses related to it.
At the same time, the Government will speed up permit processes and allocate resources to international recruitment from selected target countries (India, Brazil, Vietnam and the Philippines) in order to help employers obtain the workforce they need.
The Government will strengthen work-based immigration of highly educated people, those employed in the healthcare and social welfare sectors or the export industry, and seasonal workers, in particular. Another focus area will be employees in sectors that can be genuinely identified as suffering from a labour shortage. The Government will continuously monitor the labour market situation and recruitment needs of different sectors and regions and introduce measures based on this information.
Labour force will primarily be supplemented from the EU/EEA area. Work-based immigration from third countries will focus on people with higher education as well as employees in sectors that can be genuinely identified as suffering from a labour shortage.
Cooperation in international recruitment will be promoted with India, Brazil, Vietnam and the Philippines in accordance with the Government Programme. There are also many measures under way to facilitate international recruitment regardless of the country of origin. These include the national advisory service for employers, the target processing time of one month for residence permits, and the Work in Finland website that provides information on working life.
Highly educated experts are one of the target groups of the Government’s international recruitment. Finnish business and industry has also expressed the need to attract specialists to Finland. Among other things, the Government aims to launch a one-week fast track so that experts can get a residence permit even faster than now. Also see question What measures will the Government take to retain foreign workforce in Finland?
The Government aims to tackle the exploitation of foreign labour with broad-based and effective measures. Measures are needed in the countries of origin, in the residence permit procedure, as well as in supervision and inter-authority cooperation after the residence permit holders have entered Finland. The Government's Action Plan was completed by in February 2024 and its implementation will be monitored throughout the government term.
Schedule and objectives for work-based immigration measures
This table presents the Government’s key projects on work-based immigration, their schedule and objectives.
Measure | Schedule | Objective |
---|---|---|
Talent Boost 2023–2027 | Programme completed in November 2023, implementation through the government term | Promote availability of experts, invest in country branding, streamline residence permit process, improve Finland’s ability to retain foreign workforce. |
Action plan for combating and preventing work-related exploitation | Programme completed in February 2024, monitoring throughout the government term | Enhance prevention of and combat against labour exploitation. |
Report on factors affecting Finland’s ability to retain workforce and their promotion | Reported and promoted during the governmental term | Examine factors affecting the ability to retain workforce and promote them in broad-based stakeholder cooperation. |
Focus country model for labour migration | Throughout the Governmental term. | Government measures in the countries of origin will be compiled into a model supporting ethical and smooth recruitment. |
Income limit for residence permit for an employed person | Income limit of 1 600 euros would come into force on 1 January 2025. | Ensure that people arriving in Finland receive a pay they can live on, increase transparency by laying down income limits by decree. |
Report on the effect of income limits on labour availability | Published in June 2024 | Examine the appropriate level and effects of income limits of work-based permits on labour availability. |
Three-month unemployment rule | Government submitted its proposal on 17 October 2024. Entry into force scheduled on 1 April 2025. | Tie work-based residence permits more closely to work, expand the right to work to other labour shortage sectors. |
Building a service system for international recruitment | Full entry into force in 2025, government services already available | Government and municipalities will promote international recruitment together when employment services are reformed in 2025. The Work in Finland service of Business Finland and the KEHA Centre already supports international recruitment at the national level. |
More on work based immigration:
- Work in Finland for employers
- Talent Boost
- Migri: Coming to Finland to work
- Working in Finland brochure