Finland's Minister of Employment, Arto Satonen (NCP), addressed the media on Wednesday, outlining steps needed to accelerate work-based immigration in the coming years.
This announcement was particularly noteworthy given the contrast from the government's stubborn stance on reforming the terms of foreign labour in Finland.
During the briefing, fresh data was revealed on Finland's efforts to attract foreign workers and students from outside the European Union.
"Finland is indeed an attractive place for study and work," Satonen stated.
However, only about half of the students who study in Finland choose to remain in the country after completing their studies.
"It is crucial that we find ways to retain these individuals," Satonen emphasised.
Satonen revealed that a new regulation is being prepared that would grant permanent residency to those who have completed a master’s degree in Finland and passed a Finnish or Swedish language exam.
"There is much room for improvement in this area," he admitted.
Numbers game
Preliminary statistics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment show a slightly higher demand from abroad to study in Finland as well as increases in seasonal work, cleaning, industry and health and care services.
In the first half of this year, just over 9,000 people have applied for first-time work-based residence permits, compared to 8,800 people during the same period of last year.
The number of applications for work-based residence permit renewals also rose slightly. In the first half of 2024, roughly 11,700 people applied for extensions, compared with almost 9,400 a year earlier. Renewals were up for specialists and other workers.
There were also more applications for student residence permits than before. In the first half of this year, prospective foreign students sent in nearly 7,000 applications, compared to just over 6,700 a year earlier.
Specialist applications down
By contrast, first-time applications for specialists were declining. In the first half of 2024, there were just over 600 applications, compared with over 900 a year earlier.
This suggests that while many foreign workers already in Finland are satisfied with their situation, attracting new talent has become increasingly challenging.
"There is a global competition for top talent," Satonen acknowledged.
Despite this, he said he opposes any quotas for work-based immigration, arguing that the demand for labour varies widely across different sectors. Satonen pointed to the recently slumping construction industry as an example.
According to a survey published in August by the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) and the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland (IL), nearly 90 percent of foreign specialists residing in Finland found the ongoing immigration debate worrying.
Eighty percent of respondents did not believe that Finland will be able to attract more international experts in the future than it currently does.
TEK and IL view the government's plan to deport unemployed foreign workers if they fail to find new employment within six months as particularly problematic.
In addition, the Technology Industries of Finland, representing employers, has criticised the government's actions, arguing that Finland's reputation is suffering in the eyes of international companies and experts. At the same time, administrative bureaucracy and costs for employers are likely to increase.
Satonen also acknowledged that Finland is not sufficiently attractive to draw in workers from other EU countries.
Income threshold and 'three-month unemployment rule'
The Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL) and the Service Union United (PAM) have also raised concerns this summer regarding the situation of foreign workers.
Many cleaners in Finland are foreigners or of immigrant background. Many of them would be affected by the government's proposed "three-month unemployment rule," which would see them deported if they remained unemployed for three months. They could also face difficulties due to the minimum income threshold required for residency. If they do not earn enough, they could be forced to leave the country.
The government has proposed a minimum income threshold of 1,600 euros per month for those applying for a work-based residence permit. Other sources of income outside of work would not be counted towards this threshold.
Currently, the requirement is either the salary specified in the relevant collective agreement or a minimum subsistence level, approximately 1,400 euros per month.
Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here.