Khoa Vu gained a Master's of Science in information networks from Aalto University in 2023. Now, almost a year later, he is still job searching.
"I have sent about 200 job applications and have made it to three job interviews, but none of them resulted in a job," Vu, who's originally from Vietnam, told Yle.
In Finland he has managed to secure one short-term job through a contact. While initially limiting his job search to Finland, he is now also looking in other parts of Europe.
"I would like to stay, but if I don't find a job, I'll have to move away," he said.
Finland's demographic challenges mean the country has a labour shortage. For years, Finland has talked about the importance of attracting workers to help bridge the sustainability gap — that is — having enough taxpayers to fund public services and pensions.
Today people are moving to Finland from India, the Philippines and the Baltic countries. But as newcomers arrive, others are leaving.
"Those leaving, both Finns and foreigners, are mostly in their prime working age and highly educated," said Elina Pylkkänen, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
In 2022, immigration increased Finland's population by almost 35,000, and last year by well over 50,000. These figures depict net migration, which is the difference between immigrants and emigrants.
Every year 15,000-20,000 people leave Finland. Half of them are foreigners, who aren't likely to return, according to Pylkkänen, who said Finns often move back after a stint abroad.
More than half of foreign graduates leave Finland within three years of finishing their studies.
This is a big problem, according to Hannu Karhunen of the Labour Institute for Economic Research, Labore.
"You've already crossed one major hurdle when they agree to come here to the cold. Getting them to stay in Finland is the next crucial step," he said.
Karhunen noted that up until the 2000s, Finland had very few immigrants. While more people are now moving to Finland, the numbers are still relatively low compared to the other Nordic countries.
"In many companies, it's a major threshold to hire that first employee who doesn't speak Finnish. Hiring a foreigner also means that the company needs to learn how to integrate a foreign person into the working community," Karhunen said.
Moving forward, Karhunen said he would like to see Finland cut red tape, and clearly communicate all the different employment opportunities.
"In Finland, there are many different working groups, projects, ministry programmes, and even universities have their own services. Very little is known about their impact," he said.
In his view, there should be employment services tailored for foreigners, whereas foreign students should be helped into work life already during their studies.
Many foreign graduates would like to stay, including Aalto University graduate Khoa Vu.
"I've received an education here. I would like to give back by working and paying taxes."
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