Employability and Labour Market Positioning of International Business BBA Graduates in Finland: A Qualitative Case Study
Sanciangco, Yasmin (2026)
2026
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604298466
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202604298466
Tiivistelmä
This thesis examines how International Business graduates from Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences experience and interpret their employability within the Finnish labour market. The study is motivated by the increasing number of English-language degree programmes and the growing emphasis on attracting and retaining international talent in Finland.
The research adopts a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with fifteen graduates. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, focusing on perceived degree value, early career integration, language proficiency, and background differences.
The findings indicate that employability is shaped by the interaction of multiple forms of capital rather than by education alone. Finnish language proficiency emerges as the most decisive factor influencing access to employment, functioning as a gatekeeping mechanism in recruitment and workplace integration. Work experience, particularly through internships, plays a central role in facilitating entry into the labour market. The International Business degree is generally perceived as a broad foundation, but its value depends on specialisation and practical experience.
The study also highlights structural differences between graduates, which are primarily linked to unequal access to linguistic and social resources. From a broader perspective, the findings point to a mismatch between internationalised education and labour market requirements, raising questions related to the effective and sustainable integration of internationally educated graduates.
The research adopts a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with fifteen graduates. The data was analysed using thematic analysis, focusing on perceived degree value, early career integration, language proficiency, and background differences.
The findings indicate that employability is shaped by the interaction of multiple forms of capital rather than by education alone. Finnish language proficiency emerges as the most decisive factor influencing access to employment, functioning as a gatekeeping mechanism in recruitment and workplace integration. Work experience, particularly through internships, plays a central role in facilitating entry into the labour market. The International Business degree is generally perceived as a broad foundation, but its value depends on specialisation and practical experience.
The study also highlights structural differences between graduates, which are primarily linked to unequal access to linguistic and social resources. From a broader perspective, the findings point to a mismatch between internationalised education and labour market requirements, raising questions related to the effective and sustainable integration of internationally educated graduates.