Finland and the AI Shift: Why Most Workers Will Gain, but One in Five Faces Job Risk

Finland is among the world’s best-prepared countries for artificial intelligence, with strong digital skills and rapid adoption helping many workers, especially in education, healthcare, and professional services benefit from AI. However, about one-fifth of the workforce, particularly in highly exposed administrative and technical roles, faces a real risk of job displacement as AI use accelerates.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a general idea in Finland, it is already shaping how people work, learn, and deliver public services. According to a new analysis by the International Monetary Fund, drawing on research from institutions such as the Finnish Center for Artificial Intelligence, the ELLIS Institute Finland, and Statistics Finland, Finland is among the best-prepared countries in the world to navigate the AI transition. Strong digital infrastructure, high levels of education, and widespread public acceptance of new technologies give the country a clear head start. But readiness does not mean immunity. As AI spreads, the benefits will not be shared equally, and some workers face real risks of job loss.

A Country Ready for AI

Finland’s advantage begins with its foundations. The IMF’s AI Preparedness Index ranks Finland among the global top, reflecting robust internet infrastructure, supportive regulation, and close cooperation among government, universities, and business. Flagship investments like LUMI, Europe’s most powerful supercomputer, signal a long-term commitment to advanced computing and innovation. Finnish workers are also highly digitally skilled, outperforming most European peers in both basic and advanced tasks. Importantly, public attitudes are largely positive: most Finns see AI as a helpful tool at work rather than a threat.

This openness has translated into fast adoption. By 2024, one in four Finnish firms with at least ten employees was already using AI, nearly twice as many as the year before. Large companies are leading the way, but AI is also spreading across sectors, from information and communications to professional services and manufacturing.

Not All Jobs Face the Same Future

The real question is not whether AI will change work, but how. The IMF study looks closely at different occupations and asks two key questions: how exposed is a job to AI, and does AI support the job or replace it? The answers reveal a divided labor market.

About 40 percent of Finnish workers are in jobs that are both highly exposed to AI and well complemented by it. These include teachers, healthcare workers, engineers, and many professionals whose productivity can be boosted by AI tools. For them, AI acts more like an assistant than a replacement.

Another 20 percent of workers, however, are in jobs that are highly exposed but poorly complemented by AI. This group includes software developers, finance professionals, and administrative workers whose tasks increasingly overlap with what AI systems can do on their own. These workers face the greatest risk of job displacement. The remaining 40 percent of workers, often in personal care, services, and transport, have low exposure to AI and are less affected for now.

Winners, Losers, and Uneven Risks

The risks and rewards of AI are not evenly spread across society. Women are more likely than men to work in AI-exposed jobs, but they are also more likely to benefit, because many work in education and healthcare, where AI supports human work. Men are more concentrated in construction and transport, sectors with lower AI exposure.

Education matters too. Highly educated workers stand to gain the most overall, even though some face displacement risks. Lower-educated workers are generally less exposed to AI and therefore less affected. Differences across age groups are modest, but immigrants are less likely to benefit than native Finns, as they are more often employed in low-exposure jobs.

Sectoral differences are also important. Private-sector workers face higher risks of job loss than public-sector workers. In the public sector, especially in health and education, AI is more likely to improve services than reduce employment, although administrative roles may change significantly.

What Finland Must Do Next

So far, AI has not caused major job losses in Finland. But the IMF warns this may change as adoption accelerates. Evidence from other countries suggests that employment declines can appear quickly in highly exposed occupations, especially among younger workers. At the same time, only a small share of Finnish workers currently receive AI-related training at work.

The policy message is clear. Finland needs to invest more in AI training, lifelong learning, and reskilling, while helping small and medium-sized firms adopt AI technologies. Faster AI adoption in the public sector could also improve efficiency and free up resources. AI is not destiny; it is a tool. Whether it widens gaps or raises productivity for all will depend on choices made now.