Helsinki - Post Report Question and Answers
What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
Small embassy, few jobs. It was a major issue while we were there, and EFM morale was low. Perhaps they've fixed it by now. No insight on local economy but I didn't know anyone that was locally employed and doubt it's possible. - Dec 2022
Many embassy spouses telework. I don't know of anyone who has found a job on the local economy. Per media reports, foreigners without Finnish language skills have great difficulty finding employment in Finland. The embassy has a limited number of family member employment opportunities. - Oct 2021
Local salaries are comparable to the U.S., but jobs can be scarce. Most jobs on the Finnish economy require fluency in Finnish, although there are some jobs available in multinational companies where the operating language is English. Finland also has strict requirements for work permits. - Oct 2018
Not really, unless they came over by being sponsored by a Finnish or American company. - Jul 2012
Not really. Unless you have an "in", I think it is really tough for an average person who does not speak Finnish to get a job on the local economy. It is also difficult for an EFM to get a job at the embassy. - Jan 2011
Jobs can be found, but it is very difficult unless you know Finnish. - May 2010
I think it's easier to get a job if you are a permanent resident or a member of a European Union country. - Apr 2009
It's hard if you do not speak Finnish. However, there is a growing demand for native English speakers in the field of teaching. - Mar 2008
