"It's a waste of talent" — Finland needs skilled international workers, but struggles to keep them

The Talent Boost Summit in Helsinki brought together business leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss how Finland can attract, recruit, and retain international workers. Despite the consensus that Finland needs skilled international workers, the challenge lies in retaining them. Finland's aging population and sectoral shortages of skilled workers have heightened the need for international talent, but the government's immigration policy tightening and high unemployment rates have made the country less welcoming.

Megha Goswami, a summit host, emphasized the importance of keeping the issue on the political agenda to prevent it from being overlooked during elections. However, the current job market challenges and recent changes in immigration laws have made the situation more difficult. Riikka Loisamo, a consultant, stressed the need for stability for international migrants to build their lives in Finland.

Ero Tsiraka, a board member, pointed out that there is already a pool of untapped international talent in certain industries. Despite Finland's reputation as an attractive country to move to, building close networks, learning the language, and coping with the weather can pose challenges. The summit participants agreed that Finland could improve its support for international talent, making it easier to recognize and utilize their unique contributions.