Finland needs a skilled international workforce to ensure the continued services of a welfare state. International recruitment can help ease the effects of the decreasing workforce available in the social and health services, which is why the international recruitment process must be improved and accelerated.

The following aspects must be considered to ensure sufficient social and health care staff numbers:

•    Enhancing the sector’s attractiveness and ability to retain workers, i.e. improving pay and working conditions, are key to ensuring the adequacy and accessibility of staff in the sector. 
•    Training migrant workers who are already in Finland and facilitating their employment in the social and health services.
•    Helping Finnish health care professionals living abroad move back to Finland, for example through qualification recognition and further training.
•    Improving the international recruitment process by creating a fixed procedure for recognising qualifications and including extensive language education in it.