Demographic snapshot: International talent in Finland

Executive summary#

This study analyzes demographic data from 2,926 international professionals registered in the Herizon community portal between March 2024 and February 2026. Key findings:

• 117 countries represented, with South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan) comprising 19% of the sample
• 110 languages spoken, with 40% of respondents reporting Finnish language skills
• Professional diversity spans 10 categories, with corporate roles, customer service, and marketing more common than engineering
• English proficiency at 99%+ among respondents

1. Introduction#

Policy discussions about international talent in Finland often lack empirical data on who these professionals are, where they come from, and what skills they bring. This study addresses that gap by analyzing registration data from the Herizon community portal.

Herizon is a non-profit organization focused on employment services for international professionals in Finland. The community portal allows professionals to create profiles, access job opportunities, and participate in employment programs.

This analysis provides a demographic snapshot of international professionals actively engaged in the Finnish labor market.

2. Methodology#

2.1 Data source#

Data was extracted from the Herizon CRM via API. The dataset includes all contacts as of February 2, 2026.

2.2 Sample#

• Total contacts: 2,926
• Period: March 2024 to February 2026
• Population: International professionals in the Herizon talent network

2.3 Variables analyzed#

• Country of origin (self-reported)
• Languages spoken (self-reported, multiple selections allowed)
• Professional background (AI-estimated from profile text)

2.4 Limitations#

This study has several limitations:

1. Self-selection bias: The sample consists of individuals who actively registered for an employment-focused community. Results may not represent all international professionals in Finland.

2. Self-reported data: Country of origin and language data are self-reported and not independently verified.

3. AI-estimated categories: Professional categories are estimated using AI classification of profile information. Individuals may appear in multiple categories. Categories reflect the AI model's interpretation, not standardized occupational classifications.

4. Point-in-time snapshot: Data reflects registrations as of February 2026. The community composition changes as new members join.

5. No employment status: This dataset does not include current employment status of respondents.

3. Findings#

3.1 Geographic distribution#

The data includes 117 countries of origin. Top 10:

Regional patterns emerge from the data:

• South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal): 546 (18.7%)
• Russia and Ukraine: 213 (7.3%)
• Vietnam: 133 (4.5%)
• China: 68 (2.3%)

The remaining 107 countries account for 66.6% of those who provided country data.

Note: 683 contacts (23%) did not provide country of origin.

3.2 Language capabilities#

The data includes 110 languages. Top 15:

Note: Respondents could select multiple languages. Percentages do not sum to 100%.

Key observations:

• English proficiency at 99%+, consistent with the professional focus of the community
• Finnish language skills reported by 40.2% of respondents, indicating significant investment in local language acquisition
• Language diversity extends to 110 languages total, representing potential business value for companies operating in global markets

3.3 Professional backgrounds#

Professional categories were estimated using AI classification of profile information:

Note: Individuals may appear in multiple categories based on profile content. Numbers reflect category assignments, not unique individuals.

Engineering ranks fifth among professional categories, contrary to common assumptions that international talent pools are predominantly technical. Corporate roles, customer service, and marketing each exceed engineering in frequency.

4. Discussion#

4.1 Implications for employers#

The data indicates a professionally diverse talent pool with strong language capabilities. Employers seeking multilingual staff for customer-facing roles, marketing, or international expansion may find relevant candidates within this population.

The 40% Finnish language proficiency rate suggests a segment of the population has invested in integration. Employers concerned about language barriers may find qualified candidates among this group.

4.2 Implications for policy#

South Asian countries collectively represent the largest origin region. Integration services and support programs may benefit from cultural and linguistic considerations relevant to these communities.

The gap between English proficiency (99%+) and Finnish proficiency (40%) indicates potential demand for Finnish language training among employed or employment-seeking professionals.

4.3 Implications for research#

This dataset enables further research questions:

• Do employment outcomes vary by country of origin?
• Does Finnish language proficiency correlate with employment rates?
• Which professional categories show highest placement rates?
• How does the demographic composition change over time?

Researchers may request access to anonymized datasets for academic purposes.

5. Conclusion#

This demographic snapshot provides empirical data on international professionals engaged with the Finnish labor market through the Herizon community. The population is geographically diverse (117 countries), linguistically capable (110 languages, 40% Finnish proficiency), and professionally varied (corporate, customer service, and marketing roles exceed engineering).

The data challenges assumptions about international talent composition and provides a foundation for evidence-based hiring, policy, and research.

Data availability#

Summary statistics are published at herizon.io/open-data and updated monthly.

Researchers, policymakers, and journalists may request access to anonymized datasets via herizon.io/about/contact.

How to cite#

Herizon. (2026). Demographic snapshot: International talent in Finland. Herizon Research. https://herizon.io/blog/demographic-snapshot-international-talent-finland

---

Published: February 2, 2026 Data source: Herizon CRM, extracted February 2, 2026 Sample: 2,926 contacts