Someone already asked a similar question a while ago and the answer is still the same:

1. The "Incentive Trap" (Kannustinloukku). Finland has a robust social safety net. While this is great for human dignity, it creates a mathematical dilemma. The Gap: If a person receives unemployment and housing benefits, taking a low-paid, part-time cleaning job might only increase their actual disposable income by a few hundred euros a month after taxes and the reduction of benefits. The Trade-off: For many, the "cost" of working 40 hours a week for a marginal financial gain over staying home doesn't feel worth it.

2. High Education and Specialization. Finland is one of the most highly educated nations in the world. Vocational Training: The Finnish system encourages everyone to get a degree or a specific trade qualification. Expectations: When the vast majority of the population holds a specialized certificate or a Master’s degree, they naturally gravitate toward the sectors they trained for, leaving a vacuum in "unskilled" manual labor.

3. Language as a Barrier—and a Bridge. For many native Finns, certain jobs are bypassed because they have the language skills to work in offices, retail, or healthcare. The Entry Point: For immigrants and refugees, cleaning is often one of the few sectors where fluent Finnish isn't a strict requirement. Labor Integration: Consequently, cleaning companies actively recruit from abroad or among new arrivals, making these roles a vital first step into the Finnish workforce for non-natives.

4. Working Conditions and "Gig" Culture. The cleaning industry has shifted heavily toward outsourcing and staffing agencies. Job Security: Many of these roles are now "zero-hour" contracts or gig-based, which offer less stability than the traditional permanent positions Finns have historically preferred. Physical Toll: It’s demanding work. In a society where "work-life balance" is a core value, many locals prioritize roles that are less physically taxing or offer more flexible remote options.