45% of industrial companies in Vaasa report that labour shortages are the biggest limiting factor to their business, according to a survey by the Chamber of Commerce in Finland. New industrial investments are coming to the Vaasa region and that is great news, since one industrial job will produce two or three other jobs in the region.
Where to find people for the open positions, though? There are just as many babies born as families want, and that is too little from a demographics point of view. We need more people to come to Vaasa from abroad. Vaasa is an attractive city, 60% of the region’s foreign students would like to work in Vaasa or Finland. Stakeholders in the region are doing their best to facilitate integration and employment, even though the state bureaucracy is often an obstacle. Juha Häkkinen, CEO of the Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce, stated at a municipal election event that there must be zero tolerance for racism in Vaasa. I agree with Häkkinen. Vaasa cannot be an international and growing city if, at the same time, we accept discrimination and racism.
The Nordic Energy Capital needs a soft heart. People move to Vaasa because of work, as I did 15 years ago. People and families will also stay in the city, if we have good schools and health care, easy access to nature, culture and the hustle and bustle of the city. Vaasa is Finland’s third most international region. Let’s make sure that Vaasa is open to everyone.
Text published: Vasabladet 10 June 2021, Ilkka-Pohjalainen, 11 June 2021
Photo: Anne Tuulikangas