Two Lahti projects employ 1,300 as construction vacancies rise

Two major construction projects in Lahti employ about 1,300 people, Yle reports, as construction job vacancies have increased in the region.

Skanska is building a new Fazer chocolate factory beside the motorway. More than 300 people are currently working there, as teams install building services and production equipment. The factory is due to open in 2028.

SRV is building a data centre in Kiveriö for TikTok. About 1,000 people are working on the project, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. The company says the client wants the work finished as quickly as possible.

Both projects also use local subcontractors. At the chocolate factory, the two largest local contractors are Lahden LVI-talo and LSK.

Construction had the largest number of advertised vacancies in Päijät-Häme in August, with 234 positions. There were 71 openings for construction electricians. Unemployment among people with a vocational qualification in construction fell more than in other fields over the past year, according to a September labour market review for Lahti.

Päijät-Häme’s unemployment rate stood at 14.6 per cent at the end of September, the highest among Finland’s regions. The national average was 11.8 per cent.

Foreign workers make up 30 to 40 per cent of the data centre workforce, representing almost 30 nationalities. At the chocolate factory, about 15 per cent of workers come from abroad, including installers from Germany, France and Estonia. The factory’s project manager said Finnish is the main language on the site.