Finland faces significant labor shortage in defense sector

The defense sector in Finland is facing a major shortage of skilled workers, with an estimated 16,000 new employees needed by 2035. Across the Nordic region, the total requirement is projected to reach approximately 130,000 workers.

According to the Nordic Defense Readiness report, demand spans both public and private sectors, including technology, energy, construction, and logistics. Specific high-demand expertise includes software, data, artificial intelligence, electronics, radio technology, cyber security, space, and drone technologies, as well as production specialists and technicians.

A primary obstacle to recruitment is the speed of onboarding, as security clearances can take months or even over a year. Additionally, there is a lack of clarity regarding civilian career paths within the defense industry. Recent job postings from the Finnish Defence Forces show varied salary scales, such as approximately 7,682 euros per month for military doctors and 4,394 euros for ICT specialists.