Talent Boost Program in Finland for International Citizens

Finland is in need of skilled international citizens for the Talent Boost Program. This program is a comprehensive initiative designed to nurture and develop organisational talent. It aims to identify high-potential individuals and provide them with the necessary support and resources to maximize their skills and capabilities. The program typically includes various activities such as training, mentoring, coaching, and career development opportunities.

Through the Talent Boost Program, organizations can create a culture that values and invests in its employees, enabling them to reach their full potential. The program helps attract and retain top talent by offering a structured framework for growth and advancement.

Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s administration has created a cross-administrative project called Talent Boost to increase the immigration of senior professionals, employees, students, and researchers. It focuses on luring talent essential for Finnish companies’ expansion, globalisation, and RDI in the fastest-growing industries. Additionally, it goes after industries where there is a workforce shortage. The program aims to increase Finland’s appeal to professionals and their families to a new level. The project supports the government’s goal of a 75% employment rate.

The government of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä decided to implement the scheme Talent Boost, which focuses on foreign specialists, in 2017. The governments of Prime Minister Antti Rinne and, beginning on December 10, 2019, Prime Minister Marin will continue to implement the initiative and scale it up to include more worker migration. The immigration and integration of foreign researchers and students into Finland will receive more focus.

Various reports have identified the availability of talent as one of the main challenges facing Finnish companies, especially as they try to expand and become more international. Companies need more skilled workers with different specialities than Finland has to offer. 

To become leaders in their fields, Finnish operators must be able to attract the best international talent or those with the greatest potential. This applies to companies, higher education institutions and innovation operators.

Finland will also need more international talent to succeed in the worldwide competition for investment. Diverse skills and competencies among the workforce and easy access to labour are two of the main reasons why companies invest in specific countries or regions.

• Finland is becoming popular as a place to live, work, study, research, and invest.
• Employers are ready and able to hire people from abroad.
• The knowledge of foreign experts propels the globalisation and rejuvenation of Finnish businesses and institutions.

The Talent Boost program’s bundle of measures can be divided into three categories: The various measure packages are not distinct. The many bundles of measures are tied together, forming the core of Talent Boost activities.

• Attracting talent
• Developing immigrant legislation and permit procedures
• Strengthening the conditions for growth and retention

The following are the benefits which the citizens will receive in this program:

• The residence permit system to achieve a two-week fast track for specialists, growing business owners, and family members 
• One-month average processing time for all work- and education-based residence permits. The change includes granting foreign students residency permits for their degree program until completion and extending the two-year job-searching time following graduation.
• Finland offers a spouse support program where a person can help find employment for the family.
• Enhancing the ability of businesses and other employer organisations to hire persons who don’t understand Finnish or Swedish and their diversity competencies
• Improving the digitalisation of the system for granting resident permits
• Creating a system for identifying and registering immigrants
• Improving the detection and avoidance of foreign workforce exploitation
• Solutions that put the needs first of the customer that encourage the entrepreneurship, employment, and integration of global talent
• Improving the connections to and readiness for employment of international students in Finland 
• Language learning options should be expanded to prepare international students for employment in the Finnish labour market, and Finnish and Swedish language proficiency among international students should be improved.
• Encouraging cooperation between international talent and businesses, for instance, through trainee programmes, initiatives, mentoring, and co-creation models
• Developing degree recognition and equivalency services and expanding the availability of supplementary and authorised training.

Also Read: How to apply to French Public Universities: Unlocking Opportunities

In conclusion, the Talent Boost Program in Finland stands as a remarkable initiative to attract and retain international talent, foster innovation, and strengthen the country’s position as a global hub for expertise and creativity. The Talent Boost Program emphasizes the importance of collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and public authorities. By fostering partnerships and knowledge exchange, Finland ensures that the expertise and insights of international talents are effectively utilized to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. 

The Talent Boost Program is a shining example of how nations can leverage their strengths and embrace international talent to fuel innovation, foster cultural exchange, and enhance global competitiveness. Finland’s commitment to attracting and retaining international talents is a testament to its openness and strategic investment in its future success.

• Job Portal – https://www.workinfinland.com/en/ 
• Applying for a visa – https://enterfinland.fi/eServices 
• Fast-track Permit – https://migri.fi/en/fast-track-instructions-for-employers