Those looking for employment next summer have good prospects, despite Finland's strained economy.
Job board website Duunitori has seen around 3,000 summer job postings since the beginning of November, an increase of almost 30 percent compared to last year.
"It looks very bright for young people," Duunitori Communications Director Aino Salonen commented.
The overall situation for summer work is even more promising, as it is possible for a single advertisement to accept dozens of applicants and the fact that not all positions are posted on the site.
The number of summer jobs plummeted when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. But now there are more summer job vacancy adverts than before the pandemic.
According to Salonen, labour shortages will also affect many sectors this summer. Summer positions are plentiful in sectors like the restaurant, health and social services and manufacturing and construction industries.
Summer jobs and economic woes
Finland's economic outlook has worsened since Russia invaded Ukraine last February. However, the situation does not seem to have impacted summer employment prospects.
"Organisations believe that there will be a need for labour next summer and are confident that they can afford to hire people," Salonen told Yle.
Jussi Kukkola, an organisational expert at trade union confederation SAK, also said he believes that summer jobs will be available despite the challenging economic conditions. SAK is Finland's largest trade union confederation, which oversees the interests of workers in the service, cultural, industrial and transport sectors, among others.
"I still believe that the number of summer jobs will remain the same as last year," Kukkola told Yle's Radio Suomen Päivä on Tuesday.
Application tips: Be early and stand out
In recent years, the summer job search season has lengthened from both ends— vacancies are being advertised much earlier, but there were also more vacancies posted later, even in early summer.
Positions that open up in early winter are usually for students and require some experience and skills. Later in the spring, more openings for younger and less experienced applicants are offered.
Salonen pointed out that although there are many vacancies, there are even more applicants. Every year, many miss out on landing summer jobs.
SAK's Kukkola urged people to apply now, and encouraged job seekers to think about ways to stand out from other applicants. For example, he noted that applicants should call employers and ask for more information about the positions. This ensures that they can make a more personal connection with employers during the application process.
Kukkola also hoped that employers would put more effort into the summer job application process.
"All applications should be answered, even if the applicant is not selected," Kukkola emphasised.
Kukkola also noted how responding to each applicant is in the interest of the firms.
"Although the application process is time-consuming and resource-intensive, I would like companies to consider that it is also part of their company's image."
