Attraction Seminar explored the future of talent availability in North Savo
Regional appeal and talent availability were the focal points at the seminar “Regional Attraction – Talents and Future Makers” held on June 10, 2024. The event was organized in collaboration by the Integration of Forecasting Data in North Savo project, led by the Regional Council of North Savo, and the Talent attraction model of North Savo project, Talent First.
The goal of the event was to provide participants with fresh research data and practical examples to help strengthen North Savo’s appeal and improve the availability of talent in the region. Around 70 people attended the seminar, including regional decision-makers, experts, and business leaders.
The seminar was opened by Timo Malkoc from the Regional Council of North Savo, who in his speech emphasized the importance of regional forecasting as part of regional development.
In the keynote address, Rasmus Aro from MDI presented the forecasted development of the labor market in North Savo.
“The outlook for workforce and job development in North Savo is better than before, but the availability of skilled labor and the growing regional disparity within the province are becoming bigger challenges year by year, requiring immediate action,” Aro explained.
“Within the region, Kuopio’s growth is particularly strong due to the city’s appeal and its extensive educational opportunities. However, outside the Kuopio area, the ‘demographic pressure to shrink’ is significant: far more people are retiring than are entering the workforce, leading to almost inevitable contraction. By sector, the situation is particularly concerning for social and health services, where the demand for labor is growing due to an aging population, while a significant portion of the workforce is retiring,” Aro continued.
“To ensure the availability of skilled labor in North Savo, several actions can be taken. The region still has unemployed labor that can partially meet the demand, especially if work ability is maintained and skills are developed. Supporting smooth career transitions and reviewing the focus of education are also important. However, without strengthening the development of the working-age population, some challenges will persist. In terms of internal migration within Finland, the key is to reduce the outflow of people trained in the region. Additionally, it is almost essential to place a stronger emphasis on attracting labor from abroad.”
In the afternoon’s international section, Marcus Andersson from Future Place Leadership presented the results of the Talent City Index study, which shed light on North Savo’s attractiveness in the eyes of future talent.
“North Savo’s strengths are safety, sustainability, and quality of life, with safety being particularly prominent in Kuopio. Among Finland’s smaller cities, Iisalmi ranked in the top 10 in terms of vitality, quality of life, and family-friendliness. Iisalmi is indeed a valuable asset for North Savo, one that should be further leveraged,” said Andersson.
“Studies have shown that talent shortages are a significant problem in the labor markets both in the Nordic countries and globally. Seventy-five percent of employers report that finding skilled workers is challenging. Therefore, employers need to expand their searches across regions and even countries.”
The seminar concluded with two talent stories from the North Savo region. Petra Muraus from Charles River shared her story of settling in Kuopio and the international talents working in the company. Vimbiso Kompora from International Working Women of Finland (IWWOF) captivated the audience by sharing her thoughts on the challenges international talents face in finding employment and integrating into communities.
During the event, participants were surveyed about North Savo’s appeal. The responses highlighted the diverse utilization of nature as an attraction, the region’s safety, its manageable size, and its sense of community and relaxed local character. Solutions to the talent shortage included developing education and working life, investing in international recruitment, and strengthening cooperation.
The seminar’s diverse program and the wealth of interesting, up-to-date research were well-received by participants. The Integration of Forecasting Data in North Savo project and Talent First will continue to work on the themes discussed in the seminar.
Seminar presentations can be downloaded below (where permission was granted):
- Timo Malkoc: Regional Forecasting as Part of Regional Development, Regional Council of North Savo (in Finnish)
- Rasmus Aro: Forecasted Development of the Labor Market in North Savo, MDI (Note: The results of the forecasting project are still preliminary, with the final report to be published in August.) (in Finnish)
- Marcus Andersson: Talent City Index Finland – How Attractive is North Savo in the Eyes of Future Talent in Finland, Future Place Leadership
- Vimbiso Kompora: International Working Women of Finland, IWWOF
- Results from the survey conducted during the seminar (in Finnish)
For more information:
- Reetta Airaksinen, Project Manager, Talent First / Talent attraction model of North Savo project, reetta.airaksinen@kuopio.fi
- Timo Malkoc, Project Manager, Integration of forecasting data in North Savo project, timo.malkoc@pohjois-savo.fi
Talent First is a project funded by the South Savo Centre for Economic Development, Transport, and the Environment (North Savo ESR+), the European Union, and 13 North Savo partners (municipalities, educational institutions, companies). The project runs from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2025, and aims to improve the availability of talent in North Savo through appeal and retention strategies, as well as by building regional cooperation.
