There is a shortage of skilled workers in a growing number of professions in Finland, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy said on Thursday. According to its figures, there are particularly staffing shortfalls in some health and social service positions, with a big need for personnel in other jobs in the sector.
The biggest need is for audiologists and speech therapists, followed by cleaners and then doctors, early childhood educators, social workers, counselors and nursing associates. Companies are also looking for contact centre salespeople, cooks as well as machine tool setters and operators in the metals industry.
The data indicates that there was a shortage of qualified workers in 54 occupations as of the start of this year. That is a sharp jump from the corresponding figures of 39 professions early last year and 24 in January 2017.
According to TE employment offices around the country, there is a growing need for recruitment of cleaners, restaurant workers, home care assistants, construction painters and drivers of earthmoving equipment.
The survey of 200 occupations was released as part of the Occupational Barometer, which is also available in English. It reflects estimates by regional TE employment offices of the short-term outlook for key occupations and workforce availability in various parts of the country.
Oversupply in creative branches
Meanwhile the number of professions where there is a labour force surplus has dropped from 29 last year to 21 this year.
The building trade seems to have recovered from last year's severe workforce shortfall.
The construction job on the shortage list is supervisors, whereas last year there were shortages in an array of construction jobs from steel fixers to engineers.
The jobs with the biggest oversupply on the labour force are still secretarial positions, along with product and clothing designers as well as graphic and multimedia designers. They are followed by IT support technicians and installers, the journalists, printers and press technicians. New additions to the list include library clerks and teachers' aides. Generally there are more people seeking work than jobs available in the creative and communications fields.
