Skilled workforce

For a long time, the construction industry has had a skills shortage, both in terms of skilled labor at the secondary level and experts at the higher level. The skill shortage experienced by companies in the construction industry is higher than other sectors of the economy and significantly more common than, for example, the average in EU countries.

Companies in the construction industry see the skills shortage first and foremost as a qualitative problem. Even if there are applicants, it is challenging to find a workforce with the right professional skills. The need for labor will increase even more in the future. Read the 2024 skills needs assessment (pdf).

Our goal

We are lowering the entry and return thresholds for the sector and developing training in the sector to meet the skills needs of working life.
We promote measures that support the completion of incomplete degree programs, guidance, and financial support.
We are implementing measures to increase the number of priority applicants for training in the field in joint applications. We are monitoring the development using a 3-year moving average.
The main goal of vocational education is to improve employment to 70 percent one year after graduation. The current rate is around 60–65 percent.
In higher education, the target completion time of 3,5 years, 4 years or 5 years + 2 years will increase to 70 percent. The current figure is around 60 percent.