Published on 10th February 2021 by YLE News

Finland is bracing for a significant nursing shortage in the coming decade, with the need to recruit approximately 30,000 more nurses by 2030. This demand stems from the challenges posed by an aging population and the government’s proposed amendments to the law on social and healthcare services for the elderly.

Under the proposed legislation, the minimum nursing ratio for around-the-clock care in elderly institutions is set at seven caregivers for every ten residents. This move is driven by the pressing need to ensure the quality of care provided to the elderly.

The shortage of nurses in Finland has raised considerable concern, particularly among healthcare experts like Teppo Kröger, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Jyväskylä and Director of the Centre of Excellence in Aging and Care. According to Kröger, the demand for recruitment is already substantial in the current decade. However, the 2030s are expected to bring an even faster growth in the need for both services and staff. This surge in demand is attributed to the aging demographic, as a larger portion of the population enters the age group requiring care services.

As of now, there are approximately 50,000 healthcare professionals dedicated to providing round-the-clock care for the elderly in Finland.

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