Talent Without Opportunity: The Policy-Practice Divide and Employer-Ability in Finland’s International Student Labour Market

Employment opportunities during and after graduation play a critical role in attraction and retention of international students in host countries. But international students often face difficulties in securing local internships and jobs. This impacts graduation rates and long-term integration. Despite policy efforts like the Finnish national Talent Boost programme, a mismatch persists between policy intent and actual hiring practices. The lack of willingness and ability of employers to hire diverse talent remain key barriers. This article is an opinion piece exploring Finland’s policy-practice divide, highlighting the need to improve international graduate employment by addressing the employer-ability of host country employers.