Finland names 5 occupations facing labour shortages

Finland has identified five broad occupational areas where employers are facing significant difficulties finding suitable workers, highlighting sectors that could continue to experience recruitment pressure as the country’s workforce changes.

The list covers medical and health professionals, social work and counselling, nursing and social care, teaching, and business and administration occupations. The occupations are described as mismatch priority areas, meaning labour supply does not sufficiently match employer demand.

The assessment is part of wider European labour-market monitoring, with skills shortages increasingly being tracked to help governments, employers and workers understand where recruitment difficulties are emerging. Cedefop, the European Union agency responsible for vocational education and training, also maintains labour-market data and shortage indicators for European countries.

Finland’s 5 occupations facing labour shortages

The five occupational areas identified are:

1. Medical practitioners and other health professionals
2. Social work and counselling professionals
3. Social and health care, including nursing professionals
4. Teaching professionals
5. Business and administration occupations

The categories are not ranked against one another. The assessment treats them as areas where there are notable mismatches between the supply of workers and the needs of employers.

1. Medical practitioners and health professionals

Healthcare remains one of the areas where Finland faces recruitment pressure.

Medical practitioners and other health professionals are among the occupational groups identified as experiencing shortages. The issue is linked to the availability of appropriately qualified workers and wider demographic changes.

Finland, like many European countries, is dealing with an ageing population and a changing working-age population. These trends can increase demand for healthcare services while also creating replacement needs as older workers leave the labour market.

More recent Cedefop analysis also points to continuing labour-market imbalances in Finland, with professionals and associate professionals among groups experiencing notable shortages.

2. Social work and counselling professionals

Social work and counselling is another area where employers can face difficulty finding workers with the required skills.

Demand for social services is closely connected to demographic changes and the needs of an ageing population. Recruitment can also be affected by working conditions, regional differences and the availability of workers with the necessary qualifications.

For foreign professionals considering Finland, this means that having a qualification in social work or a related field may place them in an occupation where demand exists. However, being listed as a shortage occupation does not automatically mean a person qualifies for a Finnish work permit or receives a job offer.

3. Nursing and social care professionals

Nursing and wider social and health care account for another major part of Finland’s labour shortage picture.

The sector has faced pressure from demographic changes, replacement demand and the need for qualified workers. Healthcare occupations can also have specific qualification and licensing requirements, meaning overseas professionals generally need to meet Finnish regulatory conditions before working in regulated roles.

The shortage signals can nevertheless be important for people researching international employment opportunities, particularly healthcare workers looking at European destinations.

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4. Teaching professionals

Teaching is the fourth occupational area on the list.

The shortage is not necessarily uniform across every teaching role or region. Finland’s labour market can vary considerably by location and speciality, with particular demand associated with certain types of teaching professionals.

Cedefop’s earlier assessment specifically highlighted demand for qualified special-needs teachers and noted that regional differences affected teacher availability.

For international applicants, teaching in Finland can involve additional qualification requirements, including recognition of credentials and, depending on the position, language requirements.

5. Business and administration jobs

The fifth category may attract attention because the shortage list extends beyond healthcare and education.

Business and administration occupations have also been identified as areas of labour-market mismatch. The category is broad and covers multiple roles, meaning applicants should not assume that every business-related job is experiencing the same level of demand.

Finland’s labour-market monitoring system considers employer demand and whether vacancies are likely to face labour shortages or surpluses.

What Finland’s shortage list means for foreign workers

The shortage list can be useful to international jobseekers because it provides an indication of where Finland’s labour market has experienced recruitment difficulties.

However, a shortage occupation is not the same as an automatic immigration route.

Foreign workers still need to meet the requirements attached to the relevant Finnish residence permit, employment position and profession. Regulated occupations such as healthcare and teaching can also require recognition of qualifications or professional authorisation.

Applicants should also check whether a specific vacancy is open to international candidates rather than relying solely on the occupation appearing on a shortage list.

Why labour shortages are becoming a wider European issue

Finland’s situation reflects a broader European challenge.

Cedefop’s 2026 research uses online job advertisements and other labour-market indicators to identify potential occupational shortages. Its newer real-time indicator looks at recruitment difficulties, changes in labour demand and other signals from job advertisements across the EU.

Cedefop’s 2025 skills forecast for Finland also projects substantial labour-market imbalances through 2035, with shortages expected across several occupational groups because of employment growth and replacement demand.

That means the occupations currently experiencing recruitment pressure may form part of a longer-term workforce issue rather than being limited to a single hiring cycle.

Does Finland’s list guarantee jobs for foreigners?

No. Being in a shortage occupation can indicate demand, but it does not guarantee employment.

A foreign applicant still needs the appropriate qualifications, experience and, where applicable, professional recognition. Employers also make their own hiring decisions.

The list should be viewed as a labour-market signal, rather than a guaranteed pathway to employment or residence in Finland.

Frequently asked questions about Finland’s shortage occupations

What are the five shortage occupations in Finland?

The five broad areas identified are medical and health professionals, social work and counselling, nursing and social care, teaching, and business and administration.

Is Finland looking for foreign workers?

Finland’s labour-market data show recruitment difficulties in several occupational areas. This can create opportunities for qualified foreign workers, although immigration and employment requirements still apply.

Can Nigerians apply for jobs in Finland?

Yes. Nigerian citizens can apply for suitable jobs in Finland, provided they meet the requirements of the employer, profession and applicable immigration rules.

Which jobs are in high demand in Finland?

Healthcare, social care, nursing, teaching and some business and administration occupations have been identified among areas experiencing labour-market shortages or mismatches. More recent Cedefop analysis also identifies wider shortages across several professional and technical groups.

Does a shortage occupation make it easier to get a Finland work visa?

Not automatically. A shortage designation does not by itself guarantee a residence permit. Applicants must meet the relevant Finnish immigration and employment conditions.

Do Nigerian nurses need their qualifications recognised in Finland?

Healthcare is a regulated field, so foreign-trained professionals may need their qualifications assessed and must satisfy Finnish professional requirements before practising in regulated roles.

Does Finland have jobs for teachers from abroad?

There can be opportunities for qualified teachers, but foreign applicants should check the specific qualification, language and professional requirements attached to each position.