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Åland offers a unique working environment that combines small-community values with a high quality of life. While the region is smaller in scale than Finland’s capital area, Åland plays an important role in the local economy and offers job opportunities in a variety of sectors, including health and social care, education, hospitality, maritime industries, public administration, construction, trade, and services.
Thanks to the region’s compact size and short commuting distances, work-life balance in Åland is excellent. Employees typically enjoy regular working hours, generous holidays, and a non-hierarchical, respectful work culture. This allows for plenty of time to spend with family, enjoy nature, or take part in community life.
The chances of finding a job in Åland are good! Contact the Åland Authority for Labour Market and Student Services (AMS), which offers guidance in education and employment for adults and young adults in Åland. At AMS you can get information about job vacancies and answers to your questions and concerns about work and study options.
Åland Authority for Labour Market and Student Services (AMS)Tel. +358 18 25501 info@ams.ax www.ams.ax
Search among job vacancies in Åland.
You can also use the European Commission’s employment services EURES to look for jobs in Åland.
Applying for a job in Åland, information from Info Norden.
Visit our career and job pages here at Åland Living.
Difficult words on ams.ax? Here you will find a glossary!
Tips for finding a job.
Employment in Åland is regulated by Finnish labour law, and the same legal protections apply here as in the rest of Finland. Employment contracts can be written, oral, or electronic, but it is recommended to have a written agreement. The contract should clearly state key terms such as job duties, salary, working hours, trial period, location, and duration of employment.
Most contracts are valid indefinitely, unless there is a justified reason for a fixed-term agreement. If you need a residence permit or EU registration, a signed employment contract is usually required.
Whether you are planning to stay short-term or settle permanently, Åland offers a safe, balanced, and supportive environment for work and everyday life.
When you work in Åland you need a tax card, which you give to your employer. The tax card states your tax rate, or how much tax you must pay on your income. You apply for a tax card via the Åland tax authority. Bring a valid ID document.
If you have the bank codes/BankID of an Åland/Finnish bank, you can apply through MyTax, which is the Tax Administration’s e-service for taxpayers. You can use MyTax to take care of your own tax matters or those of your company or your underaged children.
Information on MyTax – skatt.fi.
The Tax office in the State Department of Åland (Skattebyrån, statens ämbetverk på Åland) Torggatan 16, MariehamnTel. +358 29 497 094
Read more about tax cards at Skatt.fi.
If you move from another place in Finland, you can order a new tax card via MyTax.
If you work in Finland for 6 months or less, you have a limited tax liability – read more about general and limited tax liability (withholding tax).
Visit The Tax Campus (Verokampus) website – aimed at everyone needing help with managing their taxes or understanding the Finnish tax system.
Ask your employer how and when they need your tax card details. Many employers receive details on both basic and revised tax cards electronically directly from the Tax Administration. In that case, you do not need to deliver the tax card to your employer.
Every spring, you receive a pre-completed tax return with information on your income and the taxes you have paid in the previous year. Check the information, such as the amount of pay you have received, your account number, and possible deductions. If everything is correct, you do not need to do anything. If necessary, complete and correct the information in MyTax by the due date.
If you paid too much tax in the previous year, you will receive a tax refund. If you paid too little tax in the previous year, you will have to pay back taxes.
When moving to Åland, your tax obligations depend on the type of tax card you apply for.
You may also need to file a tax return in your previous country of residence. This depends on that country’s tax rules, so be sure to check with the local tax authority.
For more information, see Residency and nonresidency in Finland – skatt.fi.
To avoid losing your tax refund, salary and any holiday pay, you should declare your current bank account to both the tax authorities of the country of emigration and the country of your former employer. This will also make future tax matters easier.
Registering a change of address with the Åland tax authority is done with a notification of a move.
Contact the Åland tax office for more information.
Appended to the tax return is a tax certificate. The tax certificate shows the total amount of your income subject to tax in the previous year.
Keep the tax certificate, you might need it. For example, if you apply for a housing allowance from FPA, you need to append the tax certificate to your application.
Everyone who works at a construction site, a worksite of an installation project or at a shipyard must carry a photo ID that shows their tax number. The worker’s tax number must be entered in the tax number register
Employer at a construction site or a shipyard – skatt.fi.
In some regulated professions, such as health care, you need special professional rights (validation) to work in Åland and in Finland. If you have obtained your degree or professional certificate in a country other than Finland, you may therefore need to apply for professional rights. You can do this with the authority responsible for the recognition of your specific profession.
Apply for recognition at: National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health Valvira.
Government of Åland (e.g. teaching degree, social worker degree).
Åland Upper Secondary School - adult education (validation of other education).
The National Food Agency.
Transport and Communications Agency (Traficom).
Regional State Administrative Agency.
The Finnish labour market is based on collective agreements that define employment terms and protect both employees and employers in Åland and in Finland.
Employee rights include:
Employer responsibilities include:
Employers must follow ethical hiring practices. If they fail to meet legal obligations, employees can contact the Regional State Administrative Agency or Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
International Labour Organization.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Fair Play at work.
Employee rights advisory service.
InfoFinland – Employee’s rights and obligations.
Occupational safety guide for foreign employees in Finland.
Working in Finland – brochure from the Ministry of Economi Affairs and Employment of Finland.
Working Time Act (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Finland monitors the work ability and well-being of employees.
More information:
Regional State Administrative Agency for Southwest Finland.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s national telephone helpline.
A-kassa is an unemployment fund that acts as basic insurance for your salary. Contact your current unemployment fund for information on what applies when you move to Åland.
All unemployment funds in Finland are listed here.
Trade unions look after the interests of their members and represent workers in matters relating to pay and working conditions. Trade unions protect workers’ rights and pay unemployment benefits. Each sector of work has its own trade union.
Read more about trade unions in Åland.
Unemployment benefits in Åland.
It is possible to live in Åland while having your employer located elsewhere. The fiber network is well developed, even in the archipelago. With video meetings, digital tools, and a reliable internet connection, working remotely is smooth and efficient. Many Ålanders already work in teams spread across the globe.
Several municipalities also offer office spaces or co-working solutions for those who prefer a professional work environment.
As a resident of Åland, you generally pay taxes here, even if your employer is based in Finland or abroad. This also means that you are normally covered by Åland’s system of social security, healthcare, and childcare.
Please note: There are exceptions. If you work for a foreign employer, international tax treaties and rules on social security may affect where you pay taxes and which country’s social security system you belong to. In some cases, your income may be taxed in the employer’s country instead of in Åland. Always contact the Åland Tax Administration for individual guidance.[JA1] [SK2]
Read more on the Tax Administration website, Åland Tax Office.
Tax information in English: Contact the Finnish Tax Administration (Vero) with questions about taxation.
Here you can read more about working remotely from Åland.
Åland has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a long tradition of self-employment and small business development – and warmly welcomes like-minded people. With a supportive local network and a strategic location between Finland and Sweden, Åland offers an excellent environment for starting and running a business.
Most companies are small or medium-sized, often family-owned, and active in trade, IT and finance, tourism, shipping, agriculture, food, construction, services, or creative industries. Business culture is practical and personal, rooted in local knowledge.
Åland’s autonomous status, bilingual setting and focus on sustainability also create opportunities in niche markets. Whether you're launching a start-up or expanding an existing business, Åland offers a stable, safe and welcoming place for entrepreneurs.
Support is available from local organisations like Ålands Näringsliv (The Åland Chamber of Commerce), which promotes business growth and innovation. They can help you get started by guiding you in writing a business plan, understanding legal obligations, and choosing the right company form or self-employment option.
Find out more about starting your own business in Åland at Åland Living.
Ålands Näringsliv offers support and help to those who want to start a business (in Swedish).
Business exchange - companies for sale (in Swedish).
Business Lab (Åland university of applied sciences) – for anyone looking to develop their entrepreneurial skills and build a sustainable business (in Swedish).
Innovation Lab (Åland university of applied sciences) – for those who want to test new ideas, explore creative solutions, and drive innovation forward (in Swedish).
Individuals, companies and other entities wishing to carry out business activities in Åland must have a business license before starting business activities. You apply for the licence from the Government of Åland.
In order for a business license to be granted, the company confirms that it will be able to offer its products or services in Swedish in Åland.
If you have questions about business licences, you can contact the Government of Åland.
Read more about business licences at Ålands Näringsliv (in Swedish).
If you want to start a business in Åland, there are several corporate forms to choose from. The best option depends on whether you’re starting alone or with others, how much capital you have, and how you want to manage responsibility and profits.
Here are the most common business structures:
Each structure comes with its own rules for taxation, profit distribution, and legal responsibility.
For help choosing the right form, visit naringsliv.ax (in Swedish).
In addition to starting a registered company, there are other ways to work independently in Åland.
Åland belongs to the EU and the customs union but is not part of the EU fiscal territory (VAT, excise). In taxation, Åland is therefore a third territory and in everyday language we say that Åland has a tax border. Therefore, goods trade with the rest of the EU, including the rest of Finland, is import and export and customs formalities are applied.
The Tax Border Office at Ålands Näringsliv offers free of charge customs advice on customs formalities and customs clearance for both individuals and businesses.
Read more about the tax border office at Ålands Näringsliv (in Swedish).
The archipelago of Åland is known for its strong spirit of entrepreneurship. The initiative Företagsam skärgård (Enterprising Archipelago) supports small businesses, innovation, and sustainable living in the islands.
More about the Företagsam skärgård project (skargarden.ax) (in Swedish).
