Across multiple industries, there are numerous labour shortages. In particular, the events industry have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic.

During the Covid pandemic, the events industry lost a third of its permanent positions, or 6,000 to 6,500 jobs. While this summer has been reported as record-breaking for the events industry as it rebounds after two years of Covid restrictions, shortages in the labour supply have caused issues in the operations of the event.

For example, Kuopio's wine festival at the beginning of July ended up being a fiasco, which was in part explained by a lack of workers.

Covid shifts

Since 2019, there have been drastic shifts in Finland's labour market. The number of employees decreased the most in the transport and storage and land, water and air transport sectors-of which 11,000 jobs were lost in both. In third place was the accommodation and catering sector, which lost 9,000 jobs. This figure was closely followed by the construction industry.

On the other hand, some industries experienced growth as a result of the pandemic. For example, social care services added 16,000 positions. 20,000 jobs were added to both the professional, scientific and technical activity sector and the administration and support service sector.

More fluid labour market

The Covid pandemic affected the Finnish labour market in many ways, among them being the rise in employees changing jobs.

"We have clearly noticed that employee mobility has increased. More than half of the jobs are filled by employees who are already working elsewhere. Employees apply to other companies because they want additional challenges and variety, but also more pay," said Elina Pylkkänen, under secretary at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

According to Pylkkänen, the departure of employees is a result of more options in the market.

"Because there are so many open jobs, people have the courage to move from one job and task to another," Pylkkänen told Yle.

Now, in industries like the events industry, many of the experts and veterans of the field have had success finding work. While students and part-time workers have partially filled the gap, the shortage remains an issue.