Survey shows increasingly fewer international experts plan to stay in Finland permanently

International experts in the field of technology continue to hold negative views of Finland. Fewer than half of the experts surveyed would recommend Finland as a place to live. Fewer and fewer of them intend to remain in Finland permanently. Last year, 54 per cent of the respondents planned to stay in Finland. This year, that figure had dropped to 47 per cent. The increasing number of individuals considering emigration can be attributed to factors such as rising unemployment, stricter immigration policies, and challenging economic conditions within the country.

The results emerged from International Technology Experts 2025, a survey by the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland and TEK. This year’s survey is a follow-up on the survey conducted one year ago. This time, the survey focused on the integration of international experts and their perceptions of equality.

The Finnish language and the lack of jobs and networks are seen as the biggest barriers to integration. A lack of language skills was the most frequently cited factor hindering the search for a suitable job. Language skills were also mentioned most often as a factor that reduces the attractiveness of Finland. 

Personal networks are seen as the most beneficial factor for finding employment.

Experts with foreign backgrounds had a worse view of their work situations than they did a year ago, when it was already bad. Only two out of every three experts from outside Europe are permanently employed. Just under a third of the respondents had been unemployed in the past three years.

Rapid action to stem the brain drain

TEK and the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland call for swift action to improve the situation.

“The importance of foreign experts in Finland’s story must be recognised. More equality is needed in job-seeking. Integration into Finland must be facilitated. Instead of punishing people for losing jobs, they should be offered support to find new employment. Significantly more language and cultural education is required,” says Juhani Nokela, Director of Public Affairs at TEK. 

“The government, municipalities, employers, trade unions – we can all contribute to stopping the brain drain. The government should rescind the law that forces international employees to leave Finland when their employment relationship ends and they do not find new employment within 3/6 months. The Finnish proficiency requirements should also be relaxed,” he says.

Nokela suggests that cities and municipalities could provide specialised services to international experts.

“Although they are competent and educated people, they are at a disadvantage compared with Finnish job-seekers. International experts need special support to find work because their networks and local language skills are weaker,” he points out.

Petteri Oksa, Advocacy Director at the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland, emphasises the employer’s responsibilities. If they so desire, they could take swift and effective action to make life easier for international employees. Such action could include providing translation technology, enabling them to learn Finnish during working hours, helping them navigate bureaucracy, mentoring systems, and strengthening social networks in the workplace.

“Trade unions, in turn, can guide international experts into Finnish work life and explain the prevailing practices and rules. Trade unions could work with employers to take practical measures, such as providing Finnish language courses,” Oksa suggests.

The survey data was collected mainly from members of the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland and Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK with an open link in 2025. An invitation to complete the survey was sent to the English-speaking members of the unions. 756 members responded. Of them, 59 per cent held a master’s degree and 18 per cent held a doctoral degree. The results were primarily analysed statistically.