Background information

Work in Finland is an initiative run by Business Finland (Business Finland FI-2018-1/2718) and the KEHA Centre (KEHA-keskus) within the framework of the governmental Talent Boost programme (Talent Boost FI-2017-17/2692). The purpose of Work in Finland is to match international talent with companies seeking to hire international workforce.

In prime minister Petteri Orpo´s government programme 2023-2027, the countries prioritised for international recruitment outside the European Union are Vietnam, Philippines, India, and Brazil. The aim is to attract experts as well as workforce into sectors experiencing labour shortages.

Content of measure

The experts from KEHA Centres and Business Finland that form the staff of Work in Finland assist both employers and employees in the migration and international recruitment process. Work in Finland is also tasked with promoting Finland as a attractive country to migrate to and increase the visibility of Finnish employers.

Work in Finland also has information on the topics of migration and international recruitment in English on their website. The website also gives information on the legal framework and workers´rights in Finland, including a link to the he Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Union SAK´s website for Fairplay at work.

In the prioritised countries of Vietnam, Philippines, India, and Brazil, Finnish employers can be assisted by local Talent Managers. The Talent Managers are experts in the local circumstances and workforce skill set. Further, the talent managers offer a trusted partner for Finnish companies in the target country.

Work in Finland is Financed by the budgets of Business Finland and the KEHA-centres. Business Finland received €98, 926 000 in the government draft budget 2024.

Use of measure

Of the four extra-EU target countries, recruitment has remained slow form Brazil. From India, the persons applying for study or work-based residence permits has doubled since 2016. An increase in applications from the Philippines has also taken place since 2017, primarily for work in the social and health care sectors

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies Local / regional government	National funds Regional funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form	Not applicable	Unknown

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Only employers' organisations
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Employer organisations have participated in a 2025 promotion trip headed by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Employment to Vietnam and the Philippine

Views and reactions

The promotion of recruitment of health care staff form the Philippines has received some criticism due to recent lay-offs of staff in Wellbeing services counties and especially the Helsinki University Hospital HUS. At the same time, the labour availability assessment that used to be a prerequisite for international recruitment, has been removed from the beginning of 2025 to the end of May 2025. The trade union for practical nurse Super has stated that the timing of such developments seems strange and purposeful. Super however underlines that they are not opposed to international labour recruitment per se, as long as sufficient language skills have been ensured by the employer.

Sources

• 01 March 2024: Draft Budget: Business Finland (Talousarvioesitys 2024:Business Finland) (budjetti.vm.fi)
• 01 August 2024: Government international recruitment activities in countries of origin (Valtion kansainvälisen rekrytoinnin toimet lähtömaissa (julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi)
• 15 August 2024: International recruitment requires employers to have the skills and the courage [Kansainvälinen rekrytointi edellyttää työnantajilta osaamista ja uskallusta] (tem.fi)
• 09 January 2025: Labour Minister Satonen to the Philippines and Vietnam: to promote the recruitment of skilled workers to Finland (Työministeri Satonen Filippiineille ja Vietnamiin: tavoitteena edistää osaajien rekrytointia Suomeen) (tem.fi)
• 12 January 2025: Labour Minister criticised for seeking hires in Asia at a time of redundancies (Työministerille kritiikkiä hoitajahausta Aasiassa irtisanomisten aikaan) (www.mtvuutiset.fi)