An office worker in Helsinki. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva
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Public support for increasing foreign labour in Finland has dropped sharply since 2023, according to a new survey commissioned by Suomen Yrittäjät.
In the latest Työelämägallup, 44 percent of respondents said Finland needs more foreign workers, down from 58 percent in September 2023. At the same time, 38 percent now oppose increased labour migration.
Juhana Brotherus, chief economist at Suomen Yrittäjät, said the shift reflects changing economic conditions.
“When the economy slows and employment prospects weaken, foreign workers are increasingly seen as competitors rather than necessary reinforcements,” he said.
The poll, conducted between 5 and 11 June, included 1,093 working-age respondents, including employees, entrepreneurs, and the unemployed. The margin of error is three percentage points.
The decline in support is most visible among men, while women’s views remain relatively unchanged. Attitudes also vary by profession and party affiliation. Sixty-one percent of managers and professionals support foreign labour, compared to lower levels among other groups. Green League, National Coalition, and Swedish People’s Party voters are the most supportive, while Finns Party voters are the most critical.
Despite the national debate, only 17 percent of respondents believe their own workplace requires foreign labour. That figure rises to 28 percent among workers in the social and healthcare sector.
“Although labour shortages are widely discussed, the need for foreign employees is not always visible in daily work life. In health and social care, the demand is tangible and urgent,” Brotherus said.
The survey also asked how to ease labour shortages. The top answers were increasing study places in critical fields (41 percent), reforming apprenticeship systems (36 percent), and reducing employer side costs (32 percent).
Other favoured solutions include pay increases (53 percent), offering internships (49 percent), better leadership (38 percent), and cooperation with schools (38 percent). Less popular ideas included hiring through staffing agencies (7 percent) and investing in employer branding (15 percent).
“People believe in practical measures like better pay and more training opportunities. Ideas such as branding or agency hiring are seen as less effective,” Brotherus added.
Support for these solutions has also declined slightly since last autumn.
The government is currently considering tuition fees for non-EU students in high schools and vocational training. Brotherus urged caution.
“The timing and pricing are unclear. Before any decisions, we should study how foreign students perform and how they integrate into the labour market,” he said.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
