Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Kuopio, Lahti, Business Finland's Work in Finland, the real estate and construction sector's KIRA consortium and E2 Research have joined forces to speed up the international recruitment of SMEs. In the research project, companies' good practices are shared nationwide and international recruitment services offered to urban companies are developed.
"The real estate and construction industry already employs a large number of workers with a foreign background. Although business cycles vary, the long-term view is a remarkably large workforce need of several tens of thousands of people. KIRA industries also have a growing need for clerical-level employees and experts. It is therefore important to find solutions that promote the career advancement of the foreign workforce and ensure that graduating foreign university students stay in Finland to work", CEO of Rakennusteollisuus RT Aleksi Randell describes.
The SMEs and foreign workforce (PIKEUS) research project serves the needs of both the private and public sectors. Companies get practical solutions for internationalization both from their own region and lessons learned from the rest of Finland. In addition to Rakennusteollisuus RT, the real estate and construction sector is represented in the project by Kiinteistötyontanjat, the Association of Architects ATL and Rakennusmestarit and -inseinori AMK RKL.
Cities and the national Talent Boost network benefit from research-based forecasting in service development and resource allocation. While the project supports companies' recruitment from abroad, the goal is to help immigrants already in Finland find employment.
"Finland already has a lot of information about the brakes on international recruitment. However, solutions to problems have also been developed in companies and cities across the country. Now it is important to identify those methods from which others could also benefit. By joining forces and sharing expertise, we can accomplish more and our work will become more efficient", says Kuopio City Manager Soile Lahti.
"As the population ages, companies will need more labor from abroad than before. Even immigrants already in Finland and foreign students who are graduating should find more effective ways to work. It is important for Helsinki to be involved in supporting the labor supply of SMEs and to develop the services offered to companies", says Glenn Gassen, Director of Immigration of the City of Helsinki.
"The success of small and medium-sized companies is producing well-being for the whole of Finland. Many SMEs work as subcontractors for export companies, and thus contribute to the vitality of the regions and Finland's competitiveness. The lack of employees in SMEs is not only a brake on growth, but it can also threaten the company's existence or operations in Finland. It's a common issue, so we invite companies and entrepreneurial organizations from all over the country to cooperate," explains project leader Mari K. Niemi from E2 Research.
The implementation of the SMEs and foreign workforce project is carried out by the independent, interdisciplinary research institute E2 Tutkimus. The work will be done during 2024.
More information
E2 Research, director, VTT, docent Mari K. Niemi, mari.k.niemi(at)e2.fi, tel. +44 773 716 1944
Building industry RT, education policy expert Saku Lehtinen, saku.lehtinen(at)rt.fi, tel. 040 041 2057
