We went to the biggest job fair in all of Southwest Finland and explored why international job seekers should consider starting their own business instead

by EntrepreNerd

Finland’s unemployment rate climbed to 8.1% in December 2024, up from 7.1% in the same period the previous year, according to tradeeconomics.com*. This figure translates to approximately 1 in every 12 people in the labor force being unemployed.

In this context, finding stable employment in Finland—especially for international residents—remains a challenge. While the labor market struggles to accommodate job seekers, alternative paths such as entrepreneurship are increasingly worth considering.

That’s why we assisted the biggest job fair in all of southwest Finland: "Job Fair goes Shift". This is our experience and comments

The Job Fair: An Overview

The annual job fair in Turku, now in partnership with SHIFT, the well-known business festival, presented itself as an attractive and well-organized event. Spread across three floors, the venue featured a large hall hosting key speakers and discussion panels, as well as a dozen stands from companies and universities offering career opportunities.

Additionally, practical services such as a CV clinic and free professional photo sessions were available to help job seekers improve their applications.

"We wanted to collaborate with Shift because they are professionals in organizing events, and we are professionals in thinking about what kind of content PV experts want. Our first JobFair event was for Ukrainians, about three years ago. Last year, we had a JobFair for all PV experts, and now we wanted to focus on a high-quality program to discuss more than just open job positions. That’s why we chose Shift because we knew they could create the right setting for this specific event", said Eija Erlamo, event production manager for the city of Turku.

However, despite the successful execution of the event, most of the job opportunities required proficiency in Finnish, which could be a major obstacle for those who had higher expectations, especially international students.

For international residents, this remains a significant barrier, despite growing participation from global talent in Finland’s workforce.

The Untapped Potential: Why do Skilled Immigrants Struggle to Find Work in Finland? - Discussion panel organized by the City of Turku. Entnerd.com

The language barrier and Job market reality

While initiatives like Turku’s job fair aim to connect job seekers with employers, the requirement for Finnish fluency in most job listings remains a considerable obstacle. This is particularly evident in Southwest Finland, where industries such as Biotechnology, shipbuilding industry, health and logistics (because of the nearby port) have a present and optimistic future.

According to a recent measurement from tyovoimabarometri.fi/, the most in-demand professions and trades in Finland today include nurses, general practitioners, kindergarten teachers, application designers, welders and gas cutters, security guards, psychologists, earthmoving machinery operators, and social work specialists.

"We have engineering and business programs mainly. Of course, we hope that students who come to study with us will stay in Finland, and we try to support that by offering Finnish language courses, work placements, and other opportunities. That is one of our main goals. We also offer a master's degree program after the bachelor's degree", said Janne Ahtinen, Lecturer, Study advisor at Turku AMK.

For international job seekers, this dynamic presents a difficult question: should they keep searching for jobs in a challenging market, or should they consider launching their own business instead?

Entrepreneurship as an Alternative Path

In discussions with Business Turku representatives, the potential for international professionals to establish their own businesses emerged as a realistic alternative to traditional employment.

While starting a business comes with its own set of challenges, Finland offers several resources, grants, and support programs that can help newcomers navigate the process.

"I think one of the most important skills in life is having an entrepreneurial mindset because you need it as a civil servant, as a regular employee, and definitely even more so if you decide to become an entrepreneur. I would strongly encourage everyone to develop this mindset because maybe one day, you’ll decide to start your own business. That’s always a moment I truly admire because it involves a lot of personal risk-taking. Especially when you start hiring and employing people, you contribute to society by creating prosperity, generating tax revenue, and fostering economic growth. I would love to see children in schools learning about the entrepreneurial mindset. We already have many good practices in place, but strengthening them even further could help increase the number of entrepreneurs in the future", Vesa Palander, Director, Business and Economic Development Services at City of Turku.

Some key for starting a business in Finland:

Access to Funding & Grants: Finland offers various funding options for startups, including Business Finland grants, EU funding programs, and regional incubators that support early-stage companies.

International Networks & Business Support: Organizations like Business Turku, and International House Turku provide mentorship, legal guidance, and networking opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs.

Tech & Innovation Ecosystem: Finland is known for its strong tech industry, innovation hubs, such as Maria 01, making it a viable place for launching digital businesses, consulting services, and creative enterprises.

Strategic move for internationals: who are facing challenges in securing salaried employment due to language barriers or local certification requirements. Instead of immediately seeking a full-time position, individuals can explore freelancing, consulting, or entrepreneurship to fill market gaps. For example, professionals in healthcare and social work (nurses, psychologists, community nurses, and social work specialists) can establish private consultation services, remote therapy platforms, or wellness coaching tailored for international residents who may struggle to access Finnish healthcare due to language or cultural differences.

There’s a light in the future of employment in Southwest Finland

While job fairs like the one in Turku continue to provide essential networking opportunities, the reality remains that many international professionals face difficulties securing employment.

The increasing unemployment rate, coupled with persistent language requirements, suggests that entrepreneurship should be considered as a viable career path alongside traditional job searching.

Nevertheless, there is a light on the horizon. According to the authorities present at the fair, the unemployment rate, which is directly linked to the economy, is expected to start decreasing from the third quarter of the year and continue improving towards 2026.

"I think things will get better in autumn, or at least they should, because we've been at such a low level for half a year or more. It has to grow, otherwise, Southwest Finland—or Finland in general—won't do too well. Yeah, I would say that maybe the healthcare sector is quite strong. You can find a job if you have a specific occupation. Of course, that applies to companies like Orion and Bayer. The maritime industry is also very strong. We've received ship orders from the United States, totaling 4.5 million. If all of these ships are going to be produced here, that’s a big opportunity", said Timo Vahtonen, employment coordinator of the ELY Center of Southwest Finland.