Work with us

Work for You event at the City Hall. — Photo: Kaimana

Helsinki’s new model supports the employment of immigrant professionals at schools and daycare centres

The City of Helsinki Education Division, in cooperation with the city’s employment services, has developed a new model for immigrant professionals in education and teaching to employ early childhood education childminders or special needs assistants.

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Build the future with us!

The City of Helsinki is the largest employer in Finland. We have over 37,000 professionals in four divisions and the City’s central administration. Together, we provide local residents with high-quality services and build the foundation for good living in Helsinki.

Approximately 15,000 education professionals work at the Education Division. We work in early childhood education (age 0-5) and pre-primary education (age 5 and 6), basic education (age 7-15), and in vocational schools, general upper secondary schools, adult education centres, as well as in the division administration.

Varhaiskasvatuksen opettaja ja lapsia — Photo: Maija Astikainen

What kind of jobs do we have?

We are constantly searching for new education professionals in our Finnish and Swedish daycare centres and schools around Helsinki:

Early childhood and pre-primary education teachers (varhaiskasvatuksen opettaja and esiopettaja in Finnish)
Early childhood education carers (varhaiskasvatuksen lastenhoitaja in Finnish)
Teachers in basic education (grades 1–9) and special needs education
School assistants (koulunkäynninohjaaja in Finnish)

With the City of Helsinki, you will enjoy the benefits of a large employer and can influence what good living in Helsinki looks like.

Both permanent and fixed term contracts are available.

For permanent jobs, you need to fulfil the eligibility criteria with regards to language and qualification requirements.

Fixed term contracts may be, however, a good opportunity when you don’t meet the formal job requirements, but have a qualification in education from abroad. Fixed term contract can be up to a year.

Language and qualification requirements

Language requirements

For a permanent position in a daycare centre or school, you need to have good Finnish or Swedish language proficiency, as most of the teaching and care are conducted in the local languages. We can also provide language training to our employees.

Qualifications for working in daycare centres

To work at a daycare centre, you need to hold either a vocational upper secondary qualification (early childhood education carer) or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (early childhood education teacher).

However, for temporary/fixed term contracts we also consider applicants who are completing their early childhood education training, as well as those who have diverse work experience in early childhood education (applicants for early childhood education teachers) and who have previous experience working with children (applicants for early childhood education carers).

Qualifications for working in schools

Comprehensive school teachers are required to have a master's degree, including specialisation in pedagogical studies and teaching practice.

For temporary school teaching and assistant jobs suitable applicants without formal qualification are considered.

Recognition of overseas qualifications

To be considered for a permanent job as a teacher or an early childhood education teacher, the candidate must -by law- have at least Bachelors’Degree in Education. A foreign qualification must be recognised by the Finnish National Agency of Education(Link leads to external service) (Opetushallitus, OPH). It is, however, possible to work in a fixed term contract without OPH recognition certificate.

Flexible work through workforce leasing company

Temporary work is also available through our partner, workforce leasing company Seure.

Language courses

Start learning Finnish or Swedish by finding a suitable language course for your needs:

How to apply?

Learn more about registering as a job seeker in Finland(Link leads to external service) and browse vacancies(Link leads to external service) in the Job Market.

Lintubongari metsikössä. — Photo: Jussi Hellsten

Gaining work experience & professional development

Gaining work experience

If you are a customer at the TE Office (Employment and Economic Development Office), you can enquire about work trials and pay subsidies to support your employment in daycare centres or schools.

More information on TE Office's website(Link leads to external service)

Learn more about registering as a job seeker in Finland(Link leads to external service) and browse vacancies(Link leads to external service)

Professional development

A child carer with sufficient language proficiency who is working on a temporary basis at the City of Helsinki may also apply for apprenticeship to become qualified early childhood education carer for a permanent contract.

Private and state-owned schools and daycare centres

Helsinki has also a number of private and/or state-owned daycare centres and schools that offer education in English and other languages. In these daycare centres and schools you can teach fully in English or in an other language and the qualification requirements might vary.

Learn more: Early childhood education in different languages in Helsinki.

There are also private and state-owned schools offering education in different languages. Learn about the different school options in our guide to international families.

Kaksi lasta leikkipuistossa, toinen on toisen reppuselässä. — Photo: Jefunne Gimpel

Contact us

Our recruitment team is happy to help you with questions regarding job search.

Give us a call on Mon–Fri at 9–15:

+358 9 310 31738(Link starts a phone call) / Kati Mhone, HR

or email us, we are here for you:

rekry.kasko@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)

Work with us – job opportunities in Education Division

Helsinki’s new model supports the employment of immigrant professionals at schools and daycare centres

Build the future with us!

What kind of jobs do we have?