Helsingin Sanomat writes that Finland is increasingly becoming part of the global trend of 'two-tier labour markets'.
In an article on the rise of Filipino nannies and housekeepers, HS writes that migrant workers are taking on jobs that many Finns would not do.
The exact number of foreign domestic workers in Finland remains unknown. In the 2020s, a total of 1,008 first residence permits and 1,576 renewals have been granted to domestic helpers and cleaners arriving from outside the EU. These types of permits have risen sharply during this decade.
Housekeepers told HS of problems such as working around the clock without the time off they were promised.
"For those of us from developing countries, opportunities are very scarce. So, we take whatever work we can get," one of the domestic workers told the paper.
Record unemployment
Helsinki is grappling with its worst level of unemployment in over two decades, according to Annukka Sorjonen of the city's employment services.
Nearly 340,000 working-age individuals were registered as unemployed nationwide by the end of July, reports Hufvudstadsbladet. In Helsinki alone, over 70,000 people are registered as jobseekers with the city's employment services.
The capital also has a high number of highly educated people out of work.
When, then, will the situation ease? Sorjonen remains hopeful that the economy will eventually pick up.
"Positive effects on employment, however, come with a considerable delay. My current assessment is that the turnaround in employment won't come until after next summer," she told the Swedish-language daily.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's (NCP) government set ambitious goals for its employment policy: 100,000 new jobs and an employment rate of 80 percent. So far, the trend has moved in the opposite direction.
Since the 2023 general election, Finland's employment rate has dropped from 78.3 to 75.8 percent.
Finnair ranked last in a consumer index of European airlines during the summer, so All Points North looked into what's happening at Finland's flag carrier. Listen to the episode via this embedded player, on Yle Areena, via Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hackers in waiting
Finnish authorities warn that Russia and China pose ongoing cyber threats, with risks to Finland likely to grow as the war in Ukraine winds down.
Teemu Liikkanen, head of Supo's counterintelligence unit, told Iltalehti that the eventual end of the war in Ukraine will also have consequences for Finland.
"When the war in Ukraine eases or ends, Russia will be able to redirect cyber capabilities currently tied up in Ukraine against Finland," Liikkanen said in a joint statement by the Security and Intelligence Service (Supo) and the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom).
Supo also warns that China's cyber operations targeting Finland remain active. In addition, China is making extensive use of Finnish network infrastructure and poorly protected consumer devices in operations directed at third countries.
Authorities say the cyber threat level in Finland remains elevated. The number of serious incidents has clearly increased, with several organisations falling victim to major ransomware attacks, IL reports.
