Working in Helsinki
On this page
- Average salary and taxation
- Working hours and leaves
- Workplace behaviour and expectations
- Work visa and permits
- Start a business
- Recognition of earlier studies and qualifications
Working in Helsinki is a great experience
Residents are hardworking and trustworthy, and the Nordic welfare state provides stability and security. High levels of gender equality, generous holiday and parental leaves, and relatively fast commutes are also big bonuses.
Average salary
In 2021, the median earnings level in Finland was EUR 3,314 per month. Almost all employees receive a pay level in line with the collective labour agreement in their field. This system of collective agreements means that there is no minimum wage.
Close to two out of every three employees in Finland belong to a trade union. It is a good idea to join a union or unemployment fund if you start working in Helsinki, as it can provide you with assistance and security. Finland’s Employment Contracts Act has more information on standard employee and employer rights and responsibilities in Finland.
Where can I learn more about work contracts, wages and working hours in Finland? Ring the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) helpline for international jobseekers at +358 800 414 004 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays or email workinfinland@sak.fi with your questions.
Taxation
Employees in Helsinki pay a municipal tax (18 per cent in 2022), a progressive state tax, and various minor taxes on their gross earned income. According to a recent OECD study, the average married worker with two children paid an average tax rate of 26.4 per cent in 2022, once child-related benefits and other tax provisions were taken into account.
The Finnish Tax Administration (better known as Vero) calculates a withholding tax percentage for all employees. Employers withhold these taxes directly from your salary, so you must make sure that your employer has access to your tax card. At the end of each year, Vero calculates whether the amount that has been withheld is sufficient. It will either return the excess to you or ask you to pay back taxes to make up the difference. The Finnish tax system does not require employees to personally pay pension insurance fees, and there are no voluntary pension contributions or employer matching systems.
Working hours
As a rule, working hours in Finland should not exceed 40 hours a week. Employers should provide lunch and coffee breaks for employees working for more than six hours at a time. If you work at least 14 days or 35 hours per month, you accrue annual holidays.
Finland has recently made it even easier for employees to agree on flexible working hours with their employers. In addition, parents and guardians have different options for part-time work.
Families are entitled to nearly a year of paid family leave when children are born. Both mothers and fathers can take leaves from work to care for a child. In addition, one parent can take parental leave or work part-time until the child is three years old without losing their position.
Will I be expected to speak Finnish at work?
Some jobs do not require you to speak Finnish or Swedish, but learning Finnish will definitely improve your prospects.
Workplace behaviour and expectations
Workplaces in Finland expect their employees to be independent and take care of the tasks they have been assigned. Finns appreciate promptness. If a meeting is scheduled to start at 8 in the morning, your co-workers will expect you to be there, ready to start, at that time. The same applies to deadlines.
Most people are on a first-name basis with their supervisors and co-workers. Your co-workers may give your work very direct feedback, as residents of Finland value straightforward talk and honesty. Finns tolerate silence well. Don’t be alarmed if a room falls quiet from time to time.
Finland highly values equality. In 2021, the employment rate was 72.7 per cent for men and 71.7 per cent for women. Discriminatory behaviour is against the law and not tolerated.
Work visa and permits
The Finnish Immigration Service asks all applicants to prove they can earn their own livelihood if they wish to stay in the country for a longer period. Current laws grant workers the right to live in Finland permanently after five years of residence.
EU citizens (includes residents of EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) are free to work and job hunt in Finland for up to three months without any formalities. After this they must register with the Finnish Immigration Service and population register. Nordic citizens must submit a notification of move.
Citizens of non-EU countries must obtain a residence permit on the basis of employment before they enter the country to work. The immigration authorities will not grant this kind of residence permit before you find a job. If the Finnish Immigration Services has granted you a residence permit on other grounds, for example for family ties, it may include the right to work.
Don’t forget our step-by-step guide for relocating to Helsinki: The First Steps Checklist has all the information you need on moving to Helsinki from abroad.
Start a business in Helsinki
If you’ve got a good business idea and adequate financing, you can easily start a business in Helsinki. In 2023, Finland’s capital was ranked as one of the top startup hubs in Europe, thanks to a recent surge in new entrepreneurial and funding activities underlining dynamic growth.
Business Helsinki is a free business advisory service whose experts and partner network can help draw up business plans, start a business, secure the necessary permits, and advise about the necessary accounting services and insurance. In addition, Helsinki Partners has compiled a step-by-step guide and provides access to a virtual co-working space that links entrepreneurs with important connections.
And don’t forget that the state provides a startup grant to entrepreneurs that meet the criteria. Finland has designed the grant to provide new business owners with income during the time that they get their business up and running. The Finnish state looks out for business owners whose enterprises fail, so don’t be afraid to give your idea a try.
What are the rules and responsibilities associated with being self-employed in Finland? See InfoFinland’s outline of entrepreneurial obligations, which includes information on start-up notifications, statutory pension contributions, and bookkeeping responsibilities.
Recognition of earlier studies and qualifications
Recognition of qualifications refers to an official decision on the types of eligibility that a foreign qualification gives. It is often necessary when applying for a job or a place of study in Finland.
The Finnish National Agency for Education and a set of other authorities are in charge of determining the compatibility of different international qualifications with their Finnish equivalents. The agency’s website includes a helpful list of the professions that are subject to regulation.
People in need of a recognition of qualifications should contact the Finnish National Agency for Education or the authority that regulates their field of study or work.