The salaries abroad survey conducted by The Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland (TEK) shows that going to work abroad is worthwhile, but few people want to stay there permanently.
As many as 94 percent of respondents felt that going abroad had been worthwhile. At the same time, only 11 percent of respondents would never return to Finland if they had complete freedom of choice. One-fifth of respondents would return within a year, one-quarter in the next few years, and 45 percent sometime later.
When asked about their reasons for leaving Finland, the most important motives were professional advancement opportunities, the chance for an adventure, and the financial rewards of working abroad.
At least 84 percent of respondents agreed fully or partly with the statements citing these reasons for leaving the country. Half of the respondents had moved abroad because it opened up new opportunities for their families. A quarter had left Finland because there were no jobs available.
Fulfilled dreams and better pay
The findings suggest that the respondents’ expectations in regards to working abroad had also been fulfilled. When asked what was the best thing about working and living abroad, the most common responses were interesting work duties and good pay, followed by opportunities for professional advancement and a high standard of living. A majority of respondents (three out of four) reported that they enjoyed a higher standard of living than in Finland.
The median salary of TEK members working abroad in October 2024 was €9,414 per month, while a labour market survey conducted at the same time showed that the median salary in Finland was €5,710 per month.
As far senior positions are concerned, the corresponding figures were, respectively, €14,160 and €8,770 for executives, €11,807 and €6,469 for middle management, and €7,605 and €5,200 for specialist positions.
About half of the respondents to the salaries abroad survey reported their salaries in euros, while the rest reported them in other currencies. They were converted into euros according to the exchange rates prevailing at the time of the survey.
Aside from pay, the respondents also enjoyed other employment-related benefits and bonuses, the most common being a mobile phone, compensation for moving costs, sickness/accident insurance, relocation expenses and holiday trips to Finland.
Social relations and advanced society attracting people back to Finland
What makes academic professionals working abroad return to Finland?
Answers are found in the 2021 salaries abroad survey, in which respondents were invited to answer the question in their own words. The responses highlighted factors related to family and social relationships, such as family, relatives, and friends in Finland. Other factors attracting people back to Finland included the clean natural environment, safe society, quality of life as well as a high-standard education system, healthcare, and social security.
What challenges or impediments did the expat respondents face when returning to Finland?
A question to this effect was included in the 2024 salaries abroad survey. Respondents were asked to express their views in their own words. Concerns were raised about working life, standard of living and the state of the economy, as well as family and integration.
Some respondents were concerned about Finland's weak employment situation and age discrimination in the labour market.
Some also felt that work experience gained abroad was not valued in Finland. Others were worried about a fall in their standard of living and potential loss of unemployment or other social security benefits upon returning to Finland.
Some respondents were concerned about how their foreign spouse and children would integrate into Finnish society and whether their foreign spouse would be able to find work in Finland.
Respondents were also asked what advice they would give to a colleague who was considering working abroad.
A high percentage of respondents encouraged and urged others to go abroad to work because their own experiences had been so positive.
Many people also pointed out that they could always return. Several respondents pointed out that it is important to make thorough advance preparations, for example by finding out about the salary level, working life, and practical matters, such as insurance, in the future host country.
Some underlined that expectations should be kept realistic and that moving abroad requires language skills, adaptability, and openness to different cultures.
It was also advisable to be prepared for challenges and the fact that returning to Finland may not necessarily be easy.
The article is based on the findings of TEK's salaries abroad survey, which is available here (in Finnish). Artificial intelligence was used to help analyze the open responses.
What survey?
Every three years, the Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK conducts a pay survey among its members who are working abroad. The objective is to gather data on the salaries and other terms of employment of people working abroad, including their reasons for leaving Finland and how satisfied they are with working abroad.
The 2024 salaries abroad survey was conducted in October–November 2024. A total of 83 respondents took part in the survey. The median age of the respondents was 45, with women accounting for 16% of the total. All in all, the number of TEK members working abroad is several hundred.
Most of them work in Germany, the United States and Switzerland. There were respondents from 24 different countries. A majority (three out of four) were employed under a local contract. One fifth were seconded as posted workers.
A majority of respondents (63%) held specialist positions, while 23 % were executives and 14% represented middle management. Most employers were engaged in IT services, but the majority of respondents worked in various industrial sectors. Normally, the work duties were related to research & development, product development and project activities.