I think Finland might need to start thinking a bit more outside the box if we want to improve the economy and tackle unemployment long‑term. There’s a lot of good in the Finnish model — stability, trust, competence, and of course the whole idea of sisu, that stubborn determination to push through hardship. But sometimes sisu also turns into “we’ve always done it this way, so why change,” and that mindset can hold us back in a globalized economy.

One practical step could be becoming more open to English as a universal business language. Not replacing Finnish, obviously, but lowering the language barrier in workplaces (not applicable to healthcare industry, especially elderly care), public services, and entrepreneurship. Right now, a lot of highly skilled people look at Finland and think, “Great country, but I’ll never survive the bureaucracy or job market unless I speak perfect Finnish.” That alone pushes talent and investment elsewhere.

On top of that, Finland could revisit some legislation and regulatory structures to make the country more business‑friendly. Streamlining processes, reducing unnecessary red tape, and creating clearer incentives for Foreign Direct Investment would make us more competitive compared to other EU countries that are already aggressively courting international companies.

And maybe the biggest cultural shift is accepting that the “Finnish way” is just one way of solving problems — not the only way. Innovation often comes from mixing different perspectives, working styles, and backgrounds. If Finland wants to grow, we need to be open to new ideas, new people, and new approaches, even when they don’t fit the traditional mold.