Helsinki attracts knowledge-intensive and creative professionals

An international study has compared 13 metropolitan regions in Europe and found Helsinki to grow strongly in knowledge-intensive and creative professions.

The study is part of a major four-year ACRE project (Accommodating Creative Knowledge - Competitiveness of European Metropolitan Regions within the Enlarged Union). The attractiveness of the Helsinki region was studied by interviews and surveys with three target groups: domestic professionals, corporate leaders, and international professionals.

Helsinki is attractive to certain types of international professionals, particularly those who seek to advance their careers in the ICT sector and those who prefer to live in a safe metropolis of comfortable size.

People continue to migrate to Helsinki after jobs and the region’s relatively dense labour market and less because of soft factors such as an urban environment or recreational opportunities. Enterprises locate in Helsinki owing to good availability of skilled workforce.

The study shows that the lifestyle of professional people in Helsinki differs somewhat from that in other European cities. Knowledge-intensive and creative professionals are highly work-oriented everywhere in Europe including Helsinki, but outside work the importance of the home is emphasized in Helsinki – people in Helsinki value highly the quality of life in their neighbourhoods.

However, the competitiveness of the Helsinki region is challenged by housing. All target groups in the study expressed concern about the quality and price of housing, which were even seen to weaken the quality of life of the region’s residents.

The results of the study highlight the special quality of Helsinki in promoting networks that integrate public and private-sector organizations and individuals, which is one of the region’s success factors.

The study is particularly important for Helsinki for two reasons. First, the region’s economic growth has relied heavily on the new economy for close to two decades. Second, knowledge-intensive and creative professionals constitute one-third of the region’s workforce, which is the highest share of all cities studied.

The results of the study have been reviewed by University of Helsinki and Helsinki City Urban Facts and published by Urban Facts. The report is in Finnish but includes an English-language summary.