In the new edition of Rakennusteollisuus RT and RIL's Tulevaiuus top experts - the builders of society's success, experts in the construction industry from various industries and universities have been interviewed. They have brought up the industry's future prospects, challenges and what kind of expertise the construction industry needs in Finland.
The real estate and construction sector employs one in five Finns. According to the forecast of the Skills Foresight Forum, 130–000 new jobs will open in the real estate and construction sector in the years 140–000.
Experts already see a qualitative challenge in the near future: the construction industry will need a workforce with the right kind of professional knowledge in the future. The need for expertise in the construction industry is growing, especially with digitization, the green transition, migration and retirement. Are there enough skilled workers in Finland?
The industry's competence challenges are seen as different depending on whether we are talking about renovation construction, new production or infrastructure construction. What we have in common, however, is that the industry needs more and more diverse expertise: different educational backgrounds and the recruitment of international experts. Increasing the share of women in various positions also needs to be increased.
Increasing cooperation between educational institutions and companies is key: education supports learners on their way from studies to working life and offers services for the development of continuous learning. Educational institutions must support international experts more systematically. The Finnish language is needed, but to support the employment of international experts, the ability to work in English must also be increased.
To ensure the attractiveness of the field, it is important that different parties share information about comprehensive career opportunities and new and developing versatile tasks. The construction industry needs both special experts in different fields of expertise and expertise that combines different perspectives. Coordination of different sub-areas, for example from the perspective of urban economics, urban planning and overall management, is essential.
Fountain Park Oy has been responsible for the publication's editorial work and background interviews. Among the interviewees were SRV's director of development Miimu Airaksinen, CEO of Ramboll Finland Maija Jokela, partner of PES Architects Tuomas Silvennoinen, CEO of Kreate Timo Vikström, vice chancellor responsible for education at the University of Oulu Mirja Illikainen, Tampere University of Civil Engineering; professor of traffic and transportation systems Heikki Liimatainen and assistant professor of urban economics at Aalto University Tuukka Saarimaa, professor of construction production economics at Aalto University Olli Seppänen and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences' real estate and construction expertise area director Jorma Säteri.
The search for future experts is currently underway: joint application of universities 13.–27.3.2024!
- Read and download the Top talent of the future - the builders of society's success publication (pdf)
For more information:
Construction industry RT, social relations manager Lauri Pakkanen, firstname.surname@rt.fi or phone 050 522 7797
RIL, Managing Director Janne Tähtikunnas, firstname.surname@ril.fi or phone 040 089 3583
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