While national discussions about the skills shortage are heating up, a different story is being told at the Haapaniemi K-Citymarket construction site. Several students who recently graduated from Savo Vocational College have found their place in the construction industry there.
Kuopio's third K-Citymarket is being built in Haapaniemi, and its doors will open in about a year. The construction site currently employs around 100 people, and by the end of the summer the number will increase to 150. The construction work is progressing on schedule, and this is one of Kuopio's most significant commercial construction projects in over a decade – and at the same time a learning environment where future professionals will take their first steps in working life.
In May, frame work will be carried out at the site, which is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of July. As the frame is erected, the construction of the waterproofing will also progress. Interior and building services work is currently underway. It is during these different phases of the building that the students have completed important demonstrations. Construction teachers at Savo Vocational College Hannu Savolainen ja Matti Salo actively monitor the progress of construction sites and identify internship opportunities for students.
"It is important that we know each other and that both parties know the expectations. The workplace knows that the student does not yet know everything and needs guidance. And we at school know that the student receives good guidance at the workplace," says Salo.
At the Savo Vocational College, Jalon rakentajat from Mikkeli is known as a construction industry partner and workplace where students are well received and receive good guidance. Students apply for internships themselves and get to demonstrate their skills in practice on construction sites. Jalon rakentajat has a strong desire to take on students and a desire to employ the most skilled workers. During spring 2025, four graduating students have smoothly transferred to the company's payroll.
"The students have done well, their skills have developed, and at the end of their working life period, students have been offered jobs," Savolainen rejoices.
The attractiveness of the construction industry is being tested in many areas, but concrete successes, such as the Haapaniemi construction site, strongly tell a different story. When education and working life work closely together, results are achieved – from the perspective of the student, the employer, and the entire region.
“The buildings are of good quality and people in Finland know how to build, but the construction industry still needs new innovations, but that is a completely different story,” says Matti Salo. “However, we should be proud of Finnish construction expertise,” he continues.
Building not only a business – but also a career
At Savo Vocational College, you can study construction in Toivala and Varkaus in Siilinjärvi. Teaching is mainly done through doing – workshops and construction sites act as learning environments. After the first year, students move to workplaces to learn in practice.
On the Toivala campus, teaching in the study hall is carried out by Jukka Laukkanen, Teemu Heikkinen ja Veikko VartiainenThe teaching focuses on learning by doing, and there is a good atmosphere of doing in the workshop.
“Hall has a good grasp of the students and the work they do,” says Matti Salo, with gratitude.
The doors of the new K-Citymarket will open in spring 2026. For many graduates of Savo Vocational College, this construction site is the first stop in paid employment - and part of a larger story in which not only a store but also a career is built.
Graduated from construction Mina Talja worked in customer service for years before studying. The field had interested me since middle school, but the path initially took me to high school and the trade. In the end, the decision to change fields felt right – and now the dream of the construction industry has come true.
"Foundation work and making molds have been my favorites. They are quite simple, but still require problem-solving. You get to use your brain and imagination," Talja says.
The foundation work for the store began at just the right time for Miina's studies. As with other students, the working life period began with a month-long contract, which was extended as the work progressed. Miina's previous studies accelerated her graduation.
"The beginning of my studies included a four-month period at school and a total of nine months of on-the-job learning. This was my third period of working life, and my goal was to get a job – and I succeeded," Talja says with satisfaction.
Her hard work made an impression, and the contract that will continue until the end of August confirmed it. “I knew from the beginning of the internship that a job well done could lead to employment. And it did,” Talja says with a smile.
Miina describes the construction industry as a diverse field, with plenty to learn from for many years. She is most proud of the professionalism of the people – everyone has so much knowledge, skills and many ways of doing things. To learn, it is worth listening to those who have been in the industry longer, there is always someone who knows how to do something.
Lev Veikolainen in turn, got the spark for the construction industry from his father, who told interesting stories from construction sites. The physical, mobile work and the concreteness of construction appealed to him. “The periods of working life have been nice. The best thing has been to get to do real work alongside experienced people and learn in practice,” Veikolainen says.
Lev's goal was to quickly get into working life, and the K-Citymarket construction site offered an excellent opportunity for that. Lev's attitude impressed his employer: he doesn't shy away from any work and does everything with a good mood. Lev will continue working until the end of the year and then head to the army. "Lev shines at work like the sun in a sleet and takes on all tasks without prejudice," said teacher Hannu Savolainen.
However, one job has stood out above the others and it makes the creator smile. “I got to weld rebar once, that was fun. You don't get to do that every day,” Veikolainen laughs happily.
Lev and Miina praise the work community as warm and open – they have been well received from the start. Foreman Jere Ruotsalainen says that he has also received feedback from partners that everyone is nice to talk to and the construction site is really inviting, such is the nice team spirit among the builders. The warm spirit of the future store already gets strong foundations from the atmosphere on the construction site – when you build together, more than just walls are created.
Jalon Rakentajat sees potential
Jalon raknetjat, the main contractor for the construction project, is a growing construction company from Mikkeli, known for its positive attitude towards students and its desire to employ good people. The company values a good attitude and a desire to learn.
"The professional skills may not be there yet, but the attitude will soon start to show. Every student gets to do real work alongside experienced workers – not just cleaning, although keeping the construction site clean is also an important part of construction," Artur Enojärvi, the master in charge of Jalon Rakentajit, emphasizes.
"2025 employment contracts have already been signed during 20. Four working life periods at Savo Vocational College have ended with graduation ceremonies and the signing of employment contracts," says Enojärvi.
Smooth collaboration enables results
The attractiveness of the construction industry is being tested in many areas, but concrete successes, such as the Haapaniemi construction site, tell a different story. When education and working life work closely together, results are achieved – from the perspective of the student, the employer, and the entire region.
A large target and tight schedules require everyone to pull together.
The shopping center is being built at an intersection, one of the busiest in Kuopio. Thinking about logistics adds a special touch to the construction process – when goods can be delivered to the construction site and when they must be at the construction site at the latest.
The normal working day for Levi, Miina and almost 100 other professionals at the K-Citymarket construction site starts at 7 am. During the workdays, the quality of work is so high that there is no need to go back and forth, and everyone's contribution is important during the day. There is a good spirit and a sense of doing on the construction site.
"We go over the day's chores together over morning coffee. The open office is designed on purpose so that information flows and everyone stays on top of the work phases," Enojärvi describes.
According to Enojärvi, occupational safety is also important. “We want employees to be able to go home safe and sound after a working day,” he says. What more can be said about that?
Text: Heli Laitinen