3 Crucial Insights from SuomiAreena 2025

Last week, we had the chance to come to SuomiAreena 2025, the largest stage for societal debate in Finland. We spent a full day participating in ‘Työperäisen maahanmuuton päivän’ – a whole day event dedicated to skill laboured migration. Our CEO Riikka Loisamo hosted and had a fireside chat with keynote speaker Peter Sarlin, CEO of Silo AI, to discuss AI developments and opportunities for Finland. Meanwhile, our Project Manager Niels Marselis moderated a panel discussion on ‘the Finnish Dream’, during which panellists exchanged thoughts on the attractiveness of Finland and the Nordics as a whole for labour migration. The day ended with a roundtable discussion with campaign partners from our Attitude Change Collective – Maanpuolustajien kollektiivi.

Here are the three most important takeaways from this year’s SuomiAreena:

1. Finland needs skilled labour migration

Finland is an attractive destination for skilled migrants. It is a clean, safe, stable and modern country, where people are free and equal. Our population is aging and our birth rate is low, which means that our workforce will need to be replenished. International migrants that are already in Finland and others considering coming here are the obvious solution to this problem. We would need at least 40.000 immigrants moving to Finland per year to be able to sustain our economy and welfare state.

As of 2025, internationals work across all industries, including, notably, gaming, tech, construction and hospitality. Research and RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) in Finland are already highly dependent on labor-based immigration. Six out of ten patent applications filed in Finland involve a non-Finnish applicant, and a significant portion of university research staff comes from outside Finland. Together, we keep the economy going.

2. multiple barriers to employment exist

Barriers to entering the Finnish working world exist, most notably the Finnish language. Too many employers currently demand newcomers to be able to work in Finnish with native language skills, which is not realistic. Employers would do well to reconsider, so that they can expand their scope to find people with the best skill sets for the job. 

Another barrier is the lack of willingness of companies to hire newcomers, coupled with the fact that many jobs are ‘hidden’. Even though we claim to be in need of skilled workers, and even though there are already enough of them in Finland, for example as spouses of those who have moved for work or among graduates, they are not seen as suitable for Finnish working life by companies. It is incredibly challenging to find employment in a labor market where most jobs are never advertised publicly, and no one wants to fill a single vacancy without a familiar recommendation.

3. societal change is needed

All the discussions pointed to one thing: We need a collective change of mindset in Finnish society to be more welcome and accommodating of skilled migrants if we want our economy and welfare state to be prosperous and sustainable.

Together with almost 30 partners in our Attitude Change campaign, we will continue on the path we charted in the spring. Together, we believe that we can change attitudes and get internationals integrated in Finland, so that we can sustain and grow our economy and country for all.

Immigration is National Interest. Maahanmuutto on maanpuolustusta.

Photo: SuomiAreena website

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