A recent survey conducted by OP Financial Group revealed that 13% of respondents have considered leaving Finland due to the proposed three-month employment requirement in the Aliens Act. The new rule would require individuals holding work permits to secure new employment within three months if their current job ends. If they fail to find a new position or meet other criteria to stay, their work permit would be revoked, and they would have to leave the country.
The survey, conducted by Taloustutkimus and commissioned by OP Financial Group, shows that this proposed amendment to the Aliens Act has raised concerns among foreign residents in Finland.
According to OP Financial Group, boosting labor immigration is crucial for Finland’s competitiveness. The Taloustutkimus survey, which was carried out in September and October, found that over 13% of respondents, particularly young people aged 18 to 34, city dwellers, and individuals who have lived in Finland for one to five years, are considering leaving Finland due to the changes.
Harri Nummela, Head of Retail Banking at OP Financial Group, emphasized that the individuals most concerned about the new rules are younger professionals who have not been in Finland for long.
The survey also suggests that immigration to Finland is increasingly focused on skilled workers, with study and employment being the main motivations for relocation. Many immigrants in Finland hold higher education degrees, and more than half have lived in the country for over ten years. However, the proposal would not affect specialists, middle and senior management, employees transferred within companies, or those with work-based residence permits for more than three years. For these groups, the deadline to secure employment would be extended to six months.
