Finland is seeing a notable shortage of summer job openings this year, with nearly half the number of positions that were on offer last year.
In March, job search engine Duunitori listed 4,300 summer job posts, which reflected a 47 percent decline compared to the same time last year, according to the company's spokesperson, Maiju Karhunen.
She told Yle that the decrease in summer jobs is a reflection of the rocky economy.
The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) has said it anticipates a weaker summer job market this year. According to the confederation's polling, one fifth of Finnish companies planned to reduce the number of summer hires this year.
In early April, Duunitori had fewer — around 4,100 — summer job listings than it did last month.
A six month process
Timi Rinne, a student at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, told Yle about his challenges in finding a summer job. He said that there can be hundreds or even thousands of applicants for a single position, so he has turned to informal networks in hopes of securing a job.
"I have asked my friends if their companies or workplaces need new workers," Rinne said.
Meanwhile, Jaakko Kurkilahti is hoping to land a job as a security guard, even though he studies computer science.
"There is nightlife in the summer, so there are more [security] jobs,” Kurkilahti said.
Business student Eevi Käki also told Yle she was branching outside of her own field of study to increase her employment chances.
"It's quite rough not getting called to interviews," Käki said, adding that she started job hunting in January.
Jobseekers fare better if they get creative
According to Karhunen, summer jobs are always popular but there are many ways to find one. However, it’s always an employer's market, with applicants outnumbering available positions.
"Persistence is rewarded and using your imagination gives you an advantage. Acquaintances or social media can also be helpful in finding opportunities," Karhunen explained.
However, the majority of young people still turn to employment websites.
In March, the majority of advertisements published on Duunitori were in the restaurant and tourism sector, sales as well as the social and care sector.
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