McDonald’s manager notes shift in Finnish job market

A downturn in Finland’s economy has slowed job-hopping, with workers holding onto positions longer than before, according to a report by Yle.

Tiina Ronimus, restaurant manager at a McDonald’s in Lahti, said employees now often stay for five years or more, a change from past patterns where staff typically left after summer jobs or to study elsewhere.

Nearly all current employees at her location have worked there at least two years, she said, adding that the team’s combined experience exceeds a century. Ronimus attributed the trend to workers seeking job security amid economic uncertainty.

Employers benefit from reduced turnover, saving on recruitment and training costs. Pekka Ilmakunnas, emeritus professor at Aalto University, noted that training a single specialist can cost up to a year’s salary, or even double in some cases.

However, prolonged stagnation risks stifling new skills and productivity, warned Penna Urrila, chief economist at the Confederation of Finnish Industries. While some sectors, like tourism and healthcare, still see high turnover—around 30% annually—others, such as manufacturing, experience far less.