Fewer summer jobs, tougher competition for Finland’s youth

By admin On Mar 24, 2025

Barista at work. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Finland is facing a sharp decline in summer job opportunities, with listings down by a third compared to two years ago. Young jobseekers now find themselves competing not only with peers but also with older unemployed workers amid a tight labour market.

Between November 2024 and March 2025, Duunitori, Finland’s largest job platform, recorded 18,900 summer job listings — a 3 percent drop from last year and a 33 percent decline from 2023.

The total number of job postings across all sectors is currently about 30 percent lower than last year, reflecting broader economic uncertainty.

At the same time, interest in available positions has increased. According to Aino Salonen, communications director at Duunitori, summer job postings have seen 44 percent more views compared to the same period in 2024.

“The competition is more intense. With fewer roles and more applicants, young people are now often competing with older jobseekers for summer positions,” Salonen said.

The unemployment rate in Finland stood at 9.5 percent in January, amounting to 269,000 people without work. This has increased the pressure on temporary jobs as more adults look for short-term roles traditionally aimed at younger workers.

Despite the decline in listings, summer hiring continues through spring. Duunitori currently hosts over 4,800 active summer job postings. However, the actual number of available positions is significantly higher, as many employers use a single ad to recruit dozens or even hundreds of workers.

Summer jobs remain concentrated in familiar sectors. From November to February, the majority of listings appeared in restaurants and tourism, retail and sales, industrial and technical roles, healthcare and social services, and construction.

According to Maiju Karhunen, another spokesperson from Duunitori, restaurant and tourism listings grew by 6 percent this season, reversing a multi-year decline. In contrast, the healthcare sector has seen a 25 percent drop in postings amid cost-saving measures and restructuring.

“Even though recruitment is down, demand for workers in healthcare remains high in certain areas,” Karhunen said.

Duunitori’s survey of over 6,000 summer jobseekers revealed that more candidates are applying earlier in the season. While in 2024 just 7 percent began applying in November or December, that figure doubled to 14 percent this year. January remains the most popular month for job hunting, and typically sees the highest number of postings.

“Although the peak season has passed, many roles are still open,” Karhunen said. “If you haven’t landed a job yet, it’s time to act — and consider roles or sectors you haven’t tried before.”

At Fazer’s bakery operations in Vantaa, interest has surged. The company, which recruits several hundred summer workers each year, has already received thousands of applications.

“We’ve had a record number of applicants,” said Anu Salomaa, Head of HR at Fazer Bakery Finland. “Some jobs have already been filled, but several roles are still open.”

Fazer offers summer roles in chocolate production, baking, packaging, warehouse logistics, and quality assurance. Cafe jobs are also available.

“These workers help cover staff holidays and meet seasonal demand around events like Easter and Christmas. It’s also a priority for us to offer young people the chance to gain work experience,” Salomaa said.

She encouraged young applicants to clearly express enthusiasm for the role and provide evidence of their strengths, even if they lack formal experience.

“If you don’t have a work history, talk about your hobbies and personal qualities,” she said. “And be sure to answer the phone — we often offer jobs by calling, and missed calls can mean missed opportunities.”

Karhunen urged employers to improve transparency in job postings. She recommended including pay details and clarifying whether minors are eligible to apply. “It saves everyone time,” she said.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi