Anyone who has decided to move to this beautiful country should know the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in Finland.
On the subject of work, the first thing to say is that due to the aging of the population in Finland, there is a significant labor shortage and therefore good employment opportunities.
Finland is an egalitarian country, and the wage gap between “high and low income” is very small. Finns are efficient, reliable and conscientious at work and most take their work very seriously.
Finns are loyal, quiet, honest, modest and calm. Finland is one of the most honest countries in the world.
Most people are extremely friendly and willing to help in any way they can, but it is very difficult to make deeper friendships. The possibilities of social integration in Finland depend a lot on your workplace and your colleagues. If you know the right colleagues, it will be easier for you to make friends. In any case, you should take the initiative because Finns are very reserved and respectful of privacy and will never make the first move to contact you.
Young people are much more open than older people. If you work mainly with the younger ones, you will probably find integration much easier.
Finnish is a very difficult language, and although everyone speaks English well, if you want to integrate, you will need to learn it, while English is sufficient to survive in large cities where virtually everyone speaks English. In small, remote towns it can be more difficult.
During the week, life is pretty monotonous, only becoming livelier on weekends when people indulge in their favorite weekend activity: getting drunk. Even when drunk, Finns are never aggressive. It’s not that they drink more on average than the rest of Europeans, but their weekly dose is concentrated on the weekend.
Living in Finland is expensive. Helsinki is one of the most expensive cities in Europe. But wages are in proportion to the cost of living. Being a small country with a population of five and a half million, the market is limited, most of the products on the market are imported, and there is not always much competition, which means high prices for most things.
Outside the capital you can enjoy better quality and lower costs. Apartment rents and purchase prices are reasonable compared to sky-high prices in Helsinki.
Finland has an excellent welfare system with benefits for the unemployed and families. It is one of the best countries to raise a family. All mothers can stay home with their baby for almost a year with full pay and great benefits. If a father with a child in a stroller uses public transportation, he rides for free in most cities.
It is an extremely modern state, where technology is widely used in many areas: transport, banks, schools and all public services, so that everything works well and quickly. It is a well-organized country where everything is done correctly, the laws are applied and respected by everyone, and the officials are always trustworthy.
The education system is recognized as one of the best in the world. In addition, the child’s education is free from birth until graduation from school and Finland is a safe country. Children can play freely, and it is safe to walk around the city at night.
The vast territory combined with the low population density (16 inhabitants per km) makes nature the undisputed owner. If you travel between two cities, you can easily cover hundreds of kilometers without encountering any human buildings. In Finland, it’s easy to get back in touch with nature. You can walk in the forests, swim in the lakes, cross-country ski and fish.
Most of the year the weather is cold, wet and gray, and only rarely does the sun make an appearance. This is partly due to the short duration of winter days, but even in summer there are often cloudy or rainy days. In reality, there are colder countries like Canada, but they they have more hours of sunshine and are usually sunnier in winter and warmer in summer.
Living and working in Finland pros and cons
Living in Finland, pros
- Very attentive, helpful and respectful people
- There is no bureaucracy, services and institutions work well
- Little crime
- Beautiful landscapes with very clean air, no corruption
- Excellent wellness system
- Free and excellent health care and education
- Social equality, (no or very little poverty)
- Respect for privacy
Living in Finland, cons
- Very expensive to travel abroad
- Terrible weather
- Finnish language very difficult to learn
- Difficult integration
Finland is a developed and prosperous country. Finnish citizens are an example of good citizens and Finland is an example of a rich country. In Finland, the people take care of their country, and the country takes care of its citizens. There is mutual respect between the citizens and the state.
Standards and conditions for living, working and studying are high. It is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Social welfare and free medical care are another flagship of this country. Finns are quiet, reserved and generally law-abiding.
Not that Finland is a paradise. But it is a good place to live and raise a family. But you have to understand and accept its uniqueness and peculiarities, starting with climatic conditions.
If you are interested in moving to Finland or finding a job in Finland, you can find all the information in the corresponding articles.
