Finnish municipalities struggle to attract candidates for top leadership roles

Finnish municipalities are facing unprecedented difficulties in recruiting new municipal managers, with record-low applicant numbers and increasing turnover in the role, reports Yle.

A recent survey by the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (Kuntaliitto) reveals that the number of applicants for municipal manager positions has dropped by a third since the early 2000s. While some municipalities, such as Luumäki (46 applicants) and Kajaani (39), still attract strong interest, others struggle—Lappajärvi received 21 applications, Varkaus 14, and Polvijärvi required an extended deadline to fill the position. On average, only 12 candidates now apply per vacancy.

Marianne Pekola-Sjöblom, Kuntaliitto’s research director, attributes the decline to several factors, including a municipality’s location, size, reputation, and salary levels. Financial instability, decision-making culture, and public debate climate also deter potential candidates. Many current municipal managers, having recently assumed their roles, are reluctant to apply elsewhere due to the public nature of recruitment processes, which can create distrust among local council members.

Maarika Kasonen, municipal manager of Heinävesi and a board member of the Finnish Municipal Managers Association, suggests that making initial application stages confidential could encourage more candidates.

The role is no longer seen as a “retirement position,” with managers increasingly seeking career advancement and new challenges. In 2023 alone, 49 new municipal or city managers were appointed across Finland. While retirement remains a common reason for vacancies, some managers resign due to lost confidence—either voluntarily or following council decisions, as seen in Rääkkylä earlier this year.

Financial struggles and political pressures deter applicants
Mervi Pääkkö, the newly appointed municipal manager of Polvijärvi (population 4,000), previously held the same role in Parikkala. Despite Polvijärvi’s financial difficulties, she was drawn to the community’s collaborative spirit and major investment projects. However, she acknowledges that budget constraints in many municipalities make the role less appealing than before.

In Varkaus (population 20,000), 14 candidates applied to replace Joonas Hänninen, who is moving to Rovaniemi after just four years in the position. Paula Pulliainen, chair of Varkaus’s city board, noted that while the number was expected, past financial troubles may have discouraged applicants. She emphasized that the city’s economic situation has since improved.

Small municipalities face unique challenges
Tervo, a municipality of 1,400 residents, is searching for its third manager in six years. Current manager Lari Tiikasalo, who served four years before accepting a legal affairs position in Kuopio, cited the role’s overwhelming workload as a key reason for high turnover. Many applicants from outside local government underestimate the demands, he said, particularly the complexities of political decision-making and the transfer of new responsibilities from the state to municipalities.

Tiikasalo’s predecessor, Seppo Niskanen, lasted only two years in the role.