Challenges and Opportunities for International Students in the Finnish Job Market

Abstract

This study examines the foreign students' working life in Finland with a focus on challenges such as language competence, integration, and networking issues, as well as opportunities such as IT and engineering employment and government initiatives like Talent Boost. The study employed qualitative student interviews as well as a talent coach interview combined with a literature review that gave a good example from the Netherlands.

Findings reveal significant barriers, including a wish for Finnish-language speakers and inadequate professional networks, but also opportunities via university relationships and networking web-sites. Students put forward better language training and enhanced familiarity with support resources as the top priorities.

Suggestions are proposed to increase job opportunities for English-speaking workers, enhance university and government assistance, and facilitate labor market integration for the advantage of both students and the economy. Employer attitudes towards hiring biases should be investigated in future research.