HS-Gallup | Extensive support for raising carers’ salaries, majority also in favor of foreign labor as a solution to caregiver shortage

The vast majority Finns are of the opinion that the salaries of nurses should be increased in order to alleviate the shortage of labor in the care sector. In a recent HS poll, 80 percent of respondents support the idea.

However, far fewer, only 45 per cent, are prepared to tighten taxation because of this.

In the care industry labor adequacy has sparked widespread debate recently. The situation has worsened during the Korona period.

The HS survey asked for views on three labor shortage issues in the sector.

There is also support for bringing foreign labor to Finland.

61 per cent agree with the statement that bringing foreign labor to Finland is an acceptable solution to the shortage of carers. One in four disagrees with the statement. 14% do not know how to say their position.

In the survey some differences can be seen when looking at the answers according to, for example, the party population. Among the supporters of all parties, the vast majority is in favor of raising the salaries of caregivers. However, there is particularly strong support among the Left Alliance, the Social Democrats and the Greens.

Bringing labor from abroad as a solution to the labor shortage in the care sector is suitable for everyone but basic Finns. Less than a third of them support the idea.

Among the supporters of other parties, especially the members of the Coalition Party, support the proposal. The vast majority of centrists and Greens also agree, as do many in the SDP and the Left Alliance.

Clearly more than half of the supporters of the Greens, the Left Alliance and the SDP would be prepared to tighten taxation to fund wage increases for care workers. In the Coalition Party and the city center, about two in five people support this, and in basic Finns about one in five.