Disparities in nursing salaries reach €800 in Pirkanmaa region of Finland

In Finland’s largest health and social services region, disparities in nursing salaries can reach up to €800 among staff performing the same role. Currently, the lowest salary for a nurse in the Pirkanmaa region is €2,863.56, while the highest is €3,676.49. There are no immediate adjustments in sight, with the region announcing that it aims to complete salary harmonization by 2028. This process is intended to ensure equal pay for equal work, with consistent criteria for determining salaries in similar roles.

Workers are reportedly frustrated by the delay, as initial plans anticipated the process being completed by the end of next year. According to Kimmo Mäkelä, a union representative from Pirkanmaa, employees relied on assurances that pay standardization would be achieved by 2025. The prolonged harmonization could dampen the region’s appeal as an employer and impact its ability to retain existing staff. Workers living near the borders of other health regions may seek employment elsewhere due to more competitive salaries.

In other regions, salary harmonization is progressing more rapidly. For instance, the North Ostrobothnia and Kanta-Häme regions have already started this alignment process. Kanta-Häme’s HR leader, Johanna Bjerregård Madsen, mentioned that their system remains incomplete on a national level, which is crucial for standardizing salaries.

Discrepancies in nursing salaries remain notable across different regions, with figures varying from €2,809.87 to €3,460.84 in Kanta-Häme, among others. The complexities involved in harmonization include the large workforce and various existing pay structures, though efforts have been made to elevate salaries over time to remain competitive within the sector.