International recruitment pays off – SMEs emphasize courage, practicality and community

At the Talent First information session held on June 5, 2025, the focus was on the realities of international recruitment from the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Vilma Niskanen, expert at E2 Research, presented the latest findings from the PIKEUS project (SMEs and Foreign Workforce in Finland), prompting participants to reflect on practical experiences, lessons learned – and what companies truly need when recruiting international talent.

The benefits of international recruitment

SMEs that have already hired foreign employees report a wide range of concrete benefits. Thanks to these recruitments, companies have been able to continue their operations, expand, access rare expertise, and serve new customer segments – both in Finland and abroad. For many businesses in smaller towns, international recruitment has been a lifeline.

Work communities have also benefited. Many companies report improved workplace atmosphere, streamlined processes, and stronger problem-solving capacity. The value of diversity has been recognized: “They work incredibly hard. Always cheerful and grateful – with Finnish employees, it’s often the opposite,” as one entrepreneur put it.

The need for practical support is clear

The study also highlights that SMEs require accessible and practical support for international recruitment. In particular, companies call for:

– Smoother administrative processes
– Language training and translation services
– Better access to integration services
– One-stop service models
– Active cooperation with educational institutions

Small employers are already doing a lot: helping new employees settle in by assisting with housing, school arrangements for families, and covering Finnish language course costs. But all this takes time and resources. Companies are calling for stronger regional support that is easily accessible and designed with SMEs’ everyday reality in mind.

Trust and learning

The session offered not just facts but also peer support. Entrepreneurs shared stories of initial hesitation and practical lessons learned: the importance of preparing the work community, setting realistic language requirements, and allowing enough time for onboarding.

“It just takes openness, courage – and sometimes a bit of patience to truly listen and understand what the person is trying to say,” one entrepreneur summarized their attitude toward building a multicultural team.

Talent First builds a bridge of support

The message from the session was clear: international recruitment is not just for large companies – SMEs in North Savo can also benefit significantly, provided the support is timely and practical.

The Talent First project continues its mission to support SMEs. Interest in the project has grown – according to the latest regional business survey (190 companies interviewed in North Savo), as many as 26% of respondents wish to hear more about cooperation opportunities.

The information session was based on the PIKEUS project by E2 Research, whose main results were published already in November 2024. The full report highlighted a sobering truth: for many Finnish SMEs, access to foreign labor is becoming a matter of survival. Read the earlier article on this topic

Want to learn more?

Explore the full PIKEUS research results and recommendations:
www.e2.fi/PIKEUS-raportti
www.e2.fi/PIKEUS-toimenpidesuositukset