The cleaning sector in Finland is undergoing significant changes as automation becomes more prevalent, with an expectation that tens of thousands of professionals will retire in the upcoming years. According to Sari Mattila, director of the industry association Puhtausala ry, the current workforce of about 100,000 individuals will shrink considerably as 30,000 to 40,000 employees are projected to retire soon. As a result, the demand for new workers to fill these roles is expected to rise, but efforts to recruit new employees are not keeping pace with the rate of retirements.

To address the looming manpower shortage, automation is being increasingly integrated into the cleaning process. While robots are still relatively uncommon in public spaces, their usage is on the rise, particularly in tasks that can help alleviate physical strain for human workers and improve overall ergonomics. The integration of equipment like combination machines allows for both manual operation and robotic assistance, providing flexibility in how cleaning is conducted. This shift towards automation aims not only to improve efficiency but also to create a safer working environment for human employees.

Individuals like Tual Khan Dal exemplify the changing workforce in this sector. A Myanmar national who moved to Finland three years ago to study facility cleaning via an apprenticeship program, he highlights the increasing partnership between humans and robots in the industry. As robotics technology evolves, it is expected to play a crucial role in tackling future labor shortages in the cleaning industry, thereby reshaping the sector and its workforce dynamics.