Ungdomar på gågatan Torggatan i Mariehamn i sommarkvällen.

Summer job in Åland

Åland has hundreds of thousands of visitors during the summer. The sea is always close by and most people come to enjoy swimming and boating in the beautiful archipelago nature. You are needed here!

Thanks to tourism, the selection of hotels, guesthouses, cottage villages, campsites and guest harbors is extensive in Åland. There are also a large number of restaurants, cafés, bars and shops that serve both summer guests and the local population. 

Some of the tourist businesses are open year-round, while others open for the peak season. But regardless – during summer, a substantial reinforcement of staff is always needed to be able to offer the very best service to everyone.

Common questions about summer jobs

Where do I find jobs to apply for?

You can find all summer jobs among the job listings. Select Summer jobs only and you will have many summer jobs to choose from. The list is constantly being updated, so check back often to see if there is something for you:

Here you can search among available positions in Åland.

You can also search for summer jobs in Åland through Nordjobb. 
Here you can find more info about Nordjobb.

What kinds of jobs are available?

Accommodation businesses and all restaurants and eateries are major employers during the summer. They need, among others, chefs, waiters, dishwashers, cleaners, and reception staff.

Shops need sales staff and cashiers. Smaller tourist companies often look for all-around people who are ready to pitch in wherever needed.

Summer substitutes are also important in a range of industries not directly focused on tourism, such as healthcare. In Åland, in addition to a central hospital, there are both public and private health centers as well as municipalities that are in great need of summer staff.

Companies in the financial sector such as banks and insurance companies, as well as media companies, also offer summer jobs. At smaller companies, you often get to take on greater responsibility, and many summer workers in Åland have gained valuable experiences that have eventually allowed them to take new steps in their careers.

Where in Åland are the jobs? And during what time of year?

Most summer jobs can be found in and around Mariehamn. However, there are jobs across virtually all of Åland, that is, in the rural areas of the main island and on the archipelago islands to the east of it.

Most summer jobs start in June and end in August. But many employers appreciate if you can start as early as April/May and stay until September/October. There are also short stints of a few weeks.

Discover Åland

Åland consists of a main island where Åland's only city, Mariehamn, is located. On the main island, distances are short. It is approximately 50 km from south to north and slightly longer from west to east.

To the east of the main island, several communities are located on their own islands. You get there by taking the smaller archipelago ferries – that alone is a little adventure in itself.

It really doesn't matter where you choose to work during the summer in Åland. In and around Mariehamn, there is more hustle and bustle, and you are closer to shopping and entertainment. If you work on an archipelago island, you live in a smaller community with fewer amenities but with a greater chance of more spectacular nature experiences. The sea, the rocks, and the entire archipelago landscape are close wherever you are in Åland.

What qualifications are good to have?

It is easier to find a job if you are 18 years of age or older.

Language skills are appreciated. Sometimes having a driver's license is also an advantage.

In certain industries, it is an advantage if you are studying or perhaps have a degree in the field, for example in healthcare and restaurant work.

If you are applying for a job where you will be handling food in any form, you must have a food hygiene certificate. Åland's Vocational School regularly arranges six-hour courses, which conclude with a test before you receive the certificate. You can also participate only in the test if you believe you already have the required knowledge.

An alcohol service certificate is a merit if you are applying for jobs at restaurants and cafés that sell alcoholic beverages. You can take an exam to obtain the certificate at Åland's Vocational School.

Read more about courses for food hygiene and alcohol service certificates at Åland's Vocational School

Other good things to know about summer jobs in Åland

Do I need to file a change of address notification?

If you work in Åland for less than 3 months, you do not need to register a change of address.

Are you staying between 3 and 12 months? Then you need to register a temporary move. If you are a Nordic citizen, you do this at the magistrate's office in the State Administrative Building in Mariehamn. Bring proof of identity! You can also make this registration at one of the post offices in Åland or at www.alandpost.ax.

As a Nordic resident, you should be registered in only one of the Nordic countries. If you divide your time between two countries, you should be registered in the country where you live for the majority of the time, at least 183 days/year.

Read more at www.ambetsverket.ax

Bank account, tax card and unemployment insurance fund?

Check your bank account!

You need a bank account for your employer to be able to pay your salary. Check whether it works with the account you have or if it is better to open an account at a bank in Åland. This applies primarily to those coming from a country other than Finland.

Get a tax card

As a summer worker, you need a tax card which you can obtain from the Tax Office at the State Provincial Office in Mariehamn. If you do not have a Finnish personal identity number, you will receive a temporary one. If you come to Åland from a country other than Finland and work here for less than six months, you may in certain cases need to choose between progressive tax and withholding tax. 

Visit www.vero.fi for more information and forms.

More information:
Pay tax and file a tax return in Finland – information from Skatteverket.se.

Here you can apply for a tax card in Finland and in Åland.

What applies to unemployment insurance?

Are you from Sweden? Then check with your current unemployment insurance fund what happens if you work a summer job in Åland. Do not leave the unemployment insurance fund before you know what applies.

Are you unable to remain a member during the time you work in Åland? Then request a transfer certificate (form U1) which you submit to the corresponding unemployment insurance fund in Finland. Your details will then be transferred and you will be covered by unemployment insurance in Åland as well.

You will need the corresponding transfer form when you return to Sweden.

How does healthcare work?

While living and working in Åland, you are entitled to health and medical care services here. In addition to public healthcare, there are private medical clinics. Employers are often responsible for occupational health and medical care for their employees.

Read more about health and medical care at:

The Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)

Åland Health and Medical Care (ÅHS)

Hygiene certificate and alcohol permit are needed in the restaurant industry

Hygiene certificate and alcohol certificate are good to have if you are looking for a job in the restaurant industry.

In Åland, Åland's Vocational School offers courses for those who need a hygiene certificate and alcohol certificate.