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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!

Over 14,000 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.

Our vision is to be the best and the most equitable place to learn in the world. We do our meaningful work together and in collaboration with one another.

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
child minders
teachers in basic education (grades 1–9) and special needs education
school assistants

Language and qualification requirements

For a permanent position in a daycare centre or school, you need to have sufficient Finnish or Swedish language proficiency, as most of the teaching and care are conducted in the local languages. This requirement is specified by legislation.

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

Qualifications for working in daycare centres

To work at a daycare centre, you need to hold either a vocational upper secondary qualification (child caregiver) or Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (early childhood education teacher). However, for temporary contracts we also consider suitable applicants without such qualifications.

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

Find temporary jobs as a child minder

Qualifications for working in schools

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

If you apply for a job in Finland which requires a higher education degree, your overseas qualification needs to be recognised by the Finnish National Agency for Education. This is to ensure that your qualification is comparable in Finland. Information on the recognition can be found on the Finnish National Agency of Education website(Link leads to external service).

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

Find temporary jobs as a school assistant

Flexible work through workforce leasing company

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

Seure(Link leads to external service)

Lintubongari metsikössä. — Photo: Jussi Hellsten

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)

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: Options for basic education in Helsinki, other alternatives(Link leads to external service)