Ingredients of happiness

People all over the world seek happiness and contentment, health and well-being, a sense of meaning and functional relationships in their lives. Finland has been chosen as the happiest country in the world many times over, and many locals believe that North Savo is the happiest province in the happiest country. While this title has not been officially announced, North Savo certainly has all the ingredients of a good life.

Talent First has participated in various events both in Finland and abroad, where eventgoers have shared their thoughts on what it means to live in Finland and in North Savo. The answers vary slightly depending on whether the respondent is young or old, Finnish or foreign, for example.

When asked about the pull factors of North Savo, locals emphasise nature and the waterways as particularly important to them. Also, the jovial, easy-going nature and approachability of people from North Savo is often mentioned. At the national skills competition Taitaja in May 2024, almost 200 responses were gathered from young people, highlighting not only the above, but also the various services, meeting places and hobbies available in region.

In discussions at the Emigration Expo in the Netherlands, foreigners mentioned the good work-life balance and the lack of rush as the key attractiveness factors of Finland. Safety and the Finnish education system, which is free for everyone, also appeal to families with children.

Many people abroad are interested in the stability of Finnish society and the high appreciation of occupational well-being – perhaps we sometimes take these things for granted here in Finland. Eight-hour days five days a week and good holiday entitlements by European standards leave plenty of free time for people living in Finland to enjoy exploring nature or make use of the services in cities. North Savo offers both of these things to suit a variety of tastes and preferences.

What do families value?

Finland has always prioritised the well-being of families, as shown, for example, in the large variety of family leave options available. After starting a family, many realise that what they really need is more peace and space around them, instead of the hustle and bustle of the big cities. In North Savo, you can get a single-family house by a lake for the same price as a two-room apartment in Helsinki.

In Finland, day-care fees are low and quality early childhood education and care allows all the adults in a family to go to work. In North Savo, families do not spend their time sitting in traffic jams, but day-care centres are usually within a reasonable distance, which makes daily routines run smoother.

People abroad often admire the Finnish education system that is free of charge from pre-school to adulthood. In Finland, children can travel safely to school on their own and everyone has equal opportunities to pursue education. UNICEF ranks Finland among the top five countries in the world in terms of quality childcare and children’s well-being.

Why do talents choose North Savo?

In the Talent City Index, which ranks cities according to how attractive they are to skilled workforce, future talents were asked about the motivators for their potential relocation to North Savo. The most frequently mentioned motivators were job opportunities, safety, financial reasons, proximity to nature and lifestyle. Among students, job opportunities and career prospects were at the top of the list.

People therefore move to North Savo for an interesting job, but the reason they stay here is often something else: nature, the leisurely pace of life and the easy-going people. These are precisely the things that locals also value most in life.