Finland Investor Confidence Barometer 2026: Talent quality remains Finland’s defining competitive edge

The 2026 Investor Confidence Barometer makes this clear. Companies continue to view Finland’s talent base as one of the strongest reasons they feel confident about developing and growing operations in the country. In 2023, businesses emphasized the exceptional skill level of the Finnish workforce even as they navigated global turbulence, and that perception has not shifted.

At the same time, companies highlight the importance of ensuring that talent availability keeps pace with future growth needs. While skill level remains a standout advantage, access to talent continues to be an area where companies see room for further improvement.

Firms report that while the expertise they find in Finland is world-class, competition for specialists remains high, especially in fast-growing and knowledge-intensive sectors.

Together, these findings matter because talent is a decisive factor in investment decisions. Companies choose locations based on whether they can hire, retain, and develop the skills required for innovation, production, and long-term competitiveness.

And in Finland’s case, the 2026 Barometer highlights both exceptional talent quality and growing demand for skilled professionals – an opportunity that companies believe can help support the next wave of investment and expansion. This becomes even more apparent when looking at companies’ growth expectations.

More than half (54%) of international companies expect to increase headcounts in the coming years, and nearly as many (44%) plan to boost their R&D operations. In a global economy shaped by volatility, Finland’s steadiness continues to anchor long-term decision-making.

Skill level remains one of Finland’s highest-rated attributes, with employees’ expertise cited as a very important factor by a large majority (80%) of respondents. At the same time, while 71% describe skilled workforce availability as “very important,” 16% view it as a current strength, highlighting an opportunity to further build on Finland’s strong talent foundation.

“Access to international talent is one of the most critical factors in our ability to grow in Finland… ensuring that top talent not only comes to Finland but also stays.”
— Erno Muuranto, Managing Director, GE HealthCare Finland

Encouragingly, the challenge around talent availability appears to have eased compared with 2023. Back then, almost four-fifths (78%) of companies reported a lack of available talent. That figure has now dropped substantially, reflecting an easing of hiring pressures in the current economic environment. As economic activity strengthens, however, companies expect talent development and attraction to remain important priorities.

The demand for specialized skills runs across both high-skill and vocational roles: AI practitioners, software developers, engineers, researchers, project managers, technicians, welders and other blue-collar specialists. Companies emphasize that finding senior expertise is particularly challenging, while junior recruitment pipelines are vulnerable to underinvestment.

Regional dynamics add another layer. Talent availability in the Helsinki capital region is significantly stronger than in the rest of the country. Yet many of Finland’s most important growth projects, especially in the green transition, are located outside the capital region. Companies planning large-scale investments in batteries, hydrogen, manufacturing or clean energy production therefore, see significant value in expanding talent availability across the country.

Foreign-owned companies also emphasize the importance of continued action in this area. For them, Finland’s talent strengths are clear, and many see opportunities to enhance access to talent further. Many point to three areas where action is most needed: faster and more predictable immigration processes, improved retention of international students, and stronger alignment between education outputs and industry needs.

“If we stop hiring juniors today, where will tomorrow’s seniors come from?”
— Laura Christie, Managing Director, Academic Work

The 2026 Barometer reinforces the importance of these actions. Respondents emphasize that immigration procedures must remain fast, transparent, and reliable. They also highlight the importance of providing international graduates with a clear pathway to long-term employment and residence in Finland. Across industry sectors, companies stress the need for sustained investment in secondary, vocational and higher education, particularly in technology, engineering and energy-related fields.

Ultimately, Finland has a strong foundation on which to build. The country is well-positioned to strengthen its role as a global hub for advanced technology, sustainable manufacturing, and research-intensive industries. Realizing that potential will mean continuing to expand talent pipelines, accelerating immigration, deepening cooperation between companies and education providers, and investing proactively in the next generation of expertise.

Finland’s long-term competitiveness will be strengthened by its ability to combine its well-recognized talent quality with a workforce that can meet the needs of future growth and investment.