Filipino training students are encouraged to consider migration opportunities in Finland.

In a press conference on Thursday night, Finland-based Tampere Adult Education Centre (TAKK) and its Philippine partner, Ideal Visa Consultancy (IVC), introduced a range of training programs aimed at opening pathways for migration.

IVC CEO Charity Delmo believes that the partnership with Finland comes at an ideal time for the country.

"For the longest time, we have been promoting other countries like New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the US. And here comes Finland. But because we're very, very open to knowing more and navigating other opportunities for Filipinos, I think it came to us at the perfect time," Delmo said.

"As early as May, we have sent our first batch already. And as of today, I think we have over 100 Filipino students directly from IDL Visa now in Finland," she added.

Sami Puttonen, Business Tampere's project manager, said the Finnish government has designated several countries as strategic partners in its effort to attract skilled workers, among them the Philippines.

"The Philippines has been identified as one of the strategic locations where you want to attract talented people to come to Finland. And then because of that, I left this fact-finding mission and was looking at the different stakeholders in the Philippines," he said.

Further, Peter Perttula, TAKK director of global partnership, stressed there's no point in encouraging someone to move halfway around the world to train for a career that doesn’t offer real job opportunities.

He emphasized the importance of identifying the specific skills and professions that are currently in demand.

"So our mission is to find students who will study a new profession, then continue living and working in Finland, and in order to be successful, we, of course, have to listen to what the local companies tell us, what the local industries tell us. Because why would you move to the other side of the world to study in an industry where no jobs is waiting for you?," Perttula pointed out.

Acknowledging the ongoing recession in Finland, Perttula noted that some industries continue to perform well despite the economic downturn. These include sectors such as practical nursing, food services, restaurant and institutional chefs, and cleaning and property maintenance.

"So currently we do have a recession in Finland, but some industries are doing okay and we hope that the recession is going to end quite soon. But now our main focus is in the nursing field," he said.

In-demand industries in Finland

Meanwhile, TAKK practical nursing trainer Kaisa-Leena Satamo explained that Finland is facing a significant shortage of nurses, with around 30,000 Finnish nurses set to retire in the near future. As a result, there is a strong push to train and employ practical nurses.

"Badly needed because Finland is growing quite old. The population is aging really, really rapidly. And by 2030, so in just five years, we are going to have at least 30,000 nurses retiring. So we need more nurses and we need them from abroad," Satamo said.

Finnish companies are actively encouraging Filipinos to consider Finland as an attractive migration destination.

Additionally, Finland is also seeking Filipinos to fill roles within its food services industry.

According to TAKK food services trainer Juha Alajoki, Finland needs additional workers in the food industry, as the number of new restaurants opening each year continues to rise.

"I would say that so far, my experiences have told me that Filipino students are very, very committed to what they do. They are very independent in every way. Self-oriented. Very easy to get along with. That's my personal experience on that," he said.

Why Filipinos?

Officers from Finnish companies have noted that Filipino students are excelling in their training, quickly adapting to new environments, and demonstrating a strong work ethic, all of which are highly appreciated by the trainers.

"I think that the good thing is that Filipinos are supporting each other. They are not just, you know, coming along from different areas in the Philippines. They form a group, and they actually get along with each other. They discuss with each other, they support each other. So that makes the life of our trainers easier because Filipinos get along very well with each other," Perttula said.

Why settle in Finland?

Meanwhile, Puttonen said Finland is an ideal destination for migrants, offering a great work-life balance and a safe, secure environment.

"If you are seeking a nice work-life balance, a safe, secure environment, kind of like this harmony in life in that sense, so in that case, Finland actually works as a very good destination for that," he said.

For his part, Perttula highlighted that Finland's climate offers a great advantage, while the country's security ensures a peaceful and safe life.

Reflecting on her own experience in Finland, Delmo echoed Perttula's comments about the country's positive environment, which has strengthened her confidence in promoting Finland as an excellent migration destination.

"For me, I am accountable for the lives of the many Filipinos I will be sending, and if the country is not safe, I think I cannot work with Finland. And so I'm very happy that I've experienced it myself. The country is very safe. We see people just walking, even women, and it's safe. So that gives us in Ideal Visa the confidence to continuously promote Finland as a migration destination for our students," Delmo said.

Those interested in exploring training opportunities in Finland can visit Ideal Visa Consultancy in the Philippines, with offices located in Bacolod, Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Baguio, Isabela, Naga, Zamboanga, Pampanga, Davao, and Laguna, as well as two international offices, including one in the United Arab Emirates.

The company specializes in visa applications for a variety of countries, including New Zealand, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, and more. Additional services include assistance with J1 programs, and tourist, spouse, and dependent visa applications.