HENRIETTA SOININEN

Antti Autio for Visiiri.

Writer Miska Valos for Wsoy.

Helle and Wilhelmina for Improbatur shot with a pinhole camera.

Architect Daniel Libeskind for Arkkitehtiuutiset.

Libeskind was in Tampere visiting the construction site of Nokia Arena he designed.

Kiri Jantunen for Yle.

Rappers Lauri and Late for Länsi-Savon Sanomat.

Writer Aleksandr Manzos for S&S.

Ida.

Writer Pirkko Soininen.

Jechu.

Journalist Emmi Nuorgam.

Miska.

Writer Kristiina Wallin for S&S.

Writer Jenni Sofia for Atena kustannus.

Writer Ulpu-Maria Lehtinen for S&S.

Andrés.

Poet Raisa Jäntti.

Cellist Mirja Mattinen.

Uğurcan Budak for Ylioppilaslehti

Finland has had a problem for a long time. The population is aging and there are not enough new taxpayers. At the same time, there is such a shortage of workers that it is threatening the economic growth. Many foreign students would like to find employment in Finland after completing their studies, but the Finnish bureaucracy makes it really, really difficult. If nothing is holding you back here and you can go elsewhere, why would you stay?

”I wonder if Finnish companies could bring out their own internationality. For example, if a company openly stated that five or ten percent of its employees were foreigners, it would immediately sound much more approachable. Then there would be no need to worry about whether or not you're going to be the only foreign worker.”

Silvie Kroeker for Ylioppilaslehti

"I naively thought that with a master's degree from a Finnish university and as a native English speaker I would be able to find a job in Finland. When I left for Germany three years ago I got a job righ a way. Because of Covid the distance relationship with my partner became too heavy, so, I had to come back. It's frustrating that degrees are offered in English to international students, but without speaking Finnish finding an employment is so hard. Finnish taxpayers paid for my education and now I would like to work and pay taxes, but so far I haven't even got a chance to do so."

Ronal Bejarano for Ylioppilaslehti

”Of the nine students who started degree studies with me only one got a job in a Finnish company. Five of us ended up working as researchers. Others have already left. Many worked for a long time for a food delivery service or as a cleaner while trying to get a job in the business world.”

Valéria Pinto for Ylioppilaslehti

"I have a law degree, and I have worked in 6 different countries. I speak 4 languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French and English and I'm qualified to teach the latter. I also have B1 level in Finnish. I have applied for over 270 positions in my 3 years in Finland, but I haven't gotten a position - not even as a taxi driver. I decided to educate myself better to improve my employability here, because I would like to stay here. In case I don't find a job before my program ends, I most probably won't be able to do so."

Kayleigh Karinen for Ylioppilaslehti

“I had decided to learn to speak Finnish. It was difficult at first because everyone wanted to switch to English right away, but I demanded people to speak Finnish to me. There is a lot of good in Finland. Yet, I don’t understand why the permit system has been made so restrictive that it forces us the immigrants into the position of losers. I love Finland, but this is really tough. I have studied the language and done everything that has been required of me. Still, I have to watch my fellow students progress in their lives while my hands are kept tied. ”

Laura.

History researcher Marko Tikka for Atena kustannus.

Iida.

Pia.

Liisa.

Ree.

Jutta.