What will the Finnish labour market look like in 2025?
1. AI and automation: a robot as a colleague?
Artificial intelligence and automation have been changing the world of work for some time, and by 2025 their impact will be even more visible. Finland has been a pioneer in the use of AI in the banking sector and public administration, for example. More and more routine tasks are being handed over to robots and algorithms. For example, banking can be done almost entirely without human contact – AI analyses, suggests solutions and helps customers with simple questions.
The growth of automation and AI does not only mean job losses, but also the emergence of new types of jobs. People will still be needed to design, maintain and monitor these systems. As technology becomes more widespread, the need to upgrade technical skills is constant. Traditional jobs are changing, and workers are increasingly required to be able to work alongside AI – whether it’s customer service, production control or analytics.
2. Teleworking is here to stay
The interest rate pandemic made teleworking a normal part of working life for many Finns. Although the crisis is behind us, the popularity of teleworking has not waned. By 2025, teleworking will become increasingly common, with many companies moving to hybrid working, where part of the week is spent working remotely and part in the office.
This model offers workers more flexibility, but it is not without its problems. Teleworking can easily blur the boundaries between work and leisure, which can lead to exhaustion. Maintaining a sense of community in the workplace also requires new ways of communicating and interacting. Employers will need to invest more in employee wellbeing and culture to ensure that hybrid working is successful without negative consequences.
3. Ageing population: a real threat of labour shortages
Finland’s population is ageing faster than in many other countries, and this will become even more pronounced by 2025. Retiring workers will leave huge gaps in the labour market, especially in the health sector and public services. At the same time, industry and construction will suffer from a low number of young workers.
There are many ways to fill labour shortages. Foreign labour is attracted to Finland, but immigration policy must be smooth and attractive if skilled people are to want to stay in Finland for the long term. We also need to increase education and training for Finns so that people can change fields or upgrade their skills. In the future, more and more people will have to learn new skills in the middle of their careers to stay in the workforce.
Retirement is not an attractive option for everyone. The growing popularity of flexible working hours and part-time work may encourage many retirees to work longer. This can help to alleviate labour shortages, but at the same time companies need to be able to offer sufficiently attractive working conditions and flexibility for experienced workers.
4. A green transition: new jobs and sustainable growth
In 2025, Finland has taken major steps towards the green transition. The principles of sustainable development have transformed both the public and private sectors. Jobs in renewable energy are increasing, and there is a growing need for skilled workers, especially in wind and solar energy. The circular economy is creating jobs in areas such as recycling and environmental technologies.
Jobs in sustainability are not limited to environmental companies. All sectors, such as industry and construction, need to take account of increasingly stringent environmental requirements. This means that many traditional occupations will have to change and adapt to new ways of working. In the construction sector, for example, energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint are key objectives and require new skills from workers.
5. Competition for talent is intensifying: immigration is key
As Finland’s population ages and labour shortages increase, the competition for talent is getting tougher. By 2025, companies will be competing not only for domestic job seekers, but also for international professionals. Finland needs immigration to meet its labour needs, especially in the technology and health sectors, but also in many other sectors.
To make Finland an attractive destination for international talent, the immigration process must be smooth and fast. Processing times for work permits and residence permits must be competitive with other European countries, and employers must be prepared to invest in the orientation and integration of foreign workers. It is also important that Finnish society and working life are open and ready to accept different backgrounds and cultures so that Finland is a genuinely attractive place for talent from around the world.
6. Soft skills and continuous learning: updating skills
By 2025, workers will be required to have more than technical skills. Soft skills such as communication, collaboration and creativity will play an increasingly important role. Technology can perform many routine tasks, but human interaction and problem-solving skills remain valuable skills that cannot be automated.
At the same time, continuous learning is vital. Technological advances and changes in work mean that employees need to be ready to update their skills on a regular basis. This means not only new technical skills, but also the ability to adopt new ways of working and adapt to changing situations. Training is no longer limited to the adolescent years, but becomes a lifelong process.