17
Jul 2025
As Finland grapples with rising unemployment and economic uncertainty, public support for foreign labor has dropped significantly.
Yet, amid stricter permit rules and fewer applications overall, a growing number of foreign graduates are choosing to stay in the country.
Fewer Finns back foreign worker recruitment
In under a year, support for increasing foreign labor in Finland dropped 14%.
In September 2023, 58% of Finns favored hiring more foreign workers. By June 2025, that number fell to just 44%.
Meanwhile, opposition climbed to 38%.
The drop is sharpest among men. While women’s views held steady, men’s support fell notably.
Professional roles also skewed more favorable. Sixty-one percent of managers and specialists still support labor migration.
Political leanings further divided opinion. Backers of the Green League, National Coalition, and Swedish People’s Party tended to favor foreign hiring.
Voters aligned with the Finns Party remained the most critical.
Juhana Brotherus, chief economist at Suomen Yrittäjät, attributes this shift to a cooling economy. “When the economy slows and employment prospects weaken, foreign workers are increasingly seen as competitors rather than necessary reinforcements,” he explained.
Labor shortages still worry employers
Despite public skepticism, certain industries still struggle to fill roles. Only 17% of respondents believe that their own workplace needs foreign labor.
Yet, that number jumps to 28% in the social and healthcare sector, long identified as a pressure point in Finnish labor planning.
Brotherus warned that perceptions don’t always match reality.
“Although labor 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,” he said.
When asked how to fix shortages, most favored practical domestic measures. More study places in critical fields (41%), apprenticeship reform (36%), and cutting employer costs (32%) topped the list.
Higher pay (53%), more internships (49%), and stronger school-business ties (38%) followed close behind. Branding efforts and staffing agencies were seen as less effective solutions.
Work permit applications take a hit
Meanwhile, Finland saw a 25% drop in work-based residence permit applications in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. By the end of June, 15,491 applications were filed.
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) pointed to both legal and economic shifts as drivers.
One major factor was a February rule change that reclassified many seasonal workers, especially berry pickers, into a new visa category. Instead of applying for standard work permits, they now seek seasonal ones.
Of the 13,619 decisions issued so far this year, 82% were approved. But rejection rates for first-time applicants rose to 23%, up from 19% in 2024.
About 14% of those rejections were tied to labor market availability assessments.
“Finland’s slow economic recovery, high unemployment, and global instability are shaping the current migration environment,” said Johannes Hirvelä, Migri’s development director. “There is a broad labor supply in many sectors, and this is reflected in permit decisions.”
(Image courtesy of Perawit Boonchu via iStock)
Permit delays, tougher reviews, rejections
Processing delays have grown. On average, it now takes 61 days to process a work-based permit.
If approved, the average wait drops to 40 days. For standard worker permits (TTOL), decisions arrive in 57 days.
Why the lag? At the start of 2025, Finland transferred responsibility for reviewing applications from local employment offices to Migri.
That legal overhaul came with stricter review requirements. The result: more detailed checks, longer waits, and more rejections.
Nearly one-fifth of all rejections stemmed from concerns about labor exploitation or problems with the employer’s operations.
Specialist and entrepreneur numbers decline
On the other hand, Migri reported that applications from specialists fell 25%. Only 527 first-time requests were filed by June, 28 fewer than the year before.
Despite the drop, the approval rate stayed high at 98%, with decisions arriving in just nine days, well within the 14-day target.
Entrepreneurs fared worse. Growth entrepreneurs filed 175 applications, down 34% from 2024. Their rejection rate tripled from 5% to 15%.
Processing times nearly doubled to 45 days. Standard entrepreneurs submitted 611 applications, but only 54% were approved.
Most denials came from negative reviews by regional economic development centers (ELY).
Researcher permit numbers stayed steady. Migri received 586 applications, nearly matching 2024’s total of 590. The average processing time was 15 days.
More foreign graduates choose to stay
One bright spot shines through. While work permit applications dropped overall, Finland saw a surge in post-graduation stay requests.
Applications from foreign graduates rose 59% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. Migri processed 1,261 such requests, approving 99%.
Processing took about two months on average.
“This growth is expected and reflects the policy goal of attracting skilled graduates to remain in Finland,” Hirvelä said.
The trend aligns with Finland’s long-term plan to keep international talent. As tuition fees for non-European Union (EU) students are discussed, policymakers weigh cost against potential contributions from those students.
Brotherus cautioned against hasty decisions. “Before any decisions, we should study how foreign students perform and how they integrate into the labor market,” he said.
(Image courtesy of Pranidchakan Boonrom via Pexels)
A shifting outlook for Finland’s visitors
Finland’s declining support for foreign labor and a drop in work permit applications signal a less welcoming climate for those seeking short- or long-term stays tied to employment.
This environment may deter digital nomads, seasonal workers, and freelancers ahead of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) launch, which already introduces new bureaucratic steps for non-EU travelers.
For long-term visitors aiming to transition into the Finnish workforce, rising rejection rates and longer processing times could add uncertainty despite ETIAS easing short-term Schengen entry.
Changing climate for migrants
Migrants in Finland face growing challenges as the economic downturn and political sentiment shift against labor migration. Public support for bringing in foreign workers has dropped sharply while work permit rejection rates have risen, particularly for first-time applicants.
Although more international graduates are choosing to stay, new legal hurdles and stricter employer scrutiny contribute to an atmosphere of insecurity. Migrants not only encounter longer processing times but also a growing perception of competition with domestic workers.
Policy ripple effects across EU
Finland’s tightening stance on foreign labor may influence immigration debates across the EU. The country’s evolving criteria for work permit approvals and labor market availability assessments could inform similar approaches in Schengen nations facing comparable challenges.
This trend may shape broader EU immigration policy, tilting it toward protective labor nationalism, even as collective goals push for skilled migration and integration. Policymakers may need to balance short-term economic pressures with long-term demographic and workforce sustainability.
(Image courtesy of Wendy Wei via Pexels)
Finland at a crossroads on foreign labor
As Finland navigates a slowing economy and a shifting public sentiment, fewer citizens support increased foreign labor, even as more international graduates choose to stay and contribute to the workforce.
With work permit applications declining and legal hurdles rising, the country faces a pivotal moment in redefining its labor and immigration strategy.
Whether Finland can strike a balance between economic pragmatism and inclusive policy will shape its global competitiveness for years to come.