Virpi Holmqvist, the CEO of Attendo, candidly addresses the challenges encountered with the recruitment of 1,000 nurses from the Philippines, emphasizing that this approach alone does not resolve the nursing shortage issue in Finland. Her comments follow the government's decision to tighten staffing ratios in elderly care facilities, necessitating the recruitment of foreign nurses. However, upon their arrival, it became apparent that the services of these recruited nurses were not needed as initially expected.

The recruitment process led to significant ramifications for the existing workforce, resulting in unfortunate layoffs of Finnish staff due to the reassessment of labor needs once the foreign nurses arrived. Specifically, in 2024, Attendo declared plans to lay off around 300 employees, which sparked discontent among the domestic nursing community. Päivi Inberg, the chairman of the organization representing practical nurses and caregivers, noted that union members expressed bitter sentiments regarding the situation and the impact it had on job security for Finnish workers.

This situation raises concerns about the efficacy of labor immigration as a solution for Finland’s healthcare staffing issues. It also reflects deeper systemic challenges within the healthcare system that need to be addressed comprehensively instead of relying on external recruitment merely as a band-aid solution.