Enterprises

There are some 62,000 enterprises operating in the WFA area. They provide over half a million jobs, of which 33% are in production, 60% in the service sector, around 5% in primary production and the remaining 2% in other types of business. The area contributes nearly 26% of Finland’s GNP. The value of the industrial production in the area is almost a third of the overall value of industrial production in the country. The businesses in the area range from multinational corporations, some even market leaders in their fields, to small and medium sized enterprises, either making their own products or acting as subcontractors, and micro enterprises, with a staff of less than five, operating mostly in the service sector.

The wide range of know-how in the WFA area is a result of cooperation between corporations operating at a global level, universities, polytechnics, and centres of technology and expertise. To assist business enterprises, the public sector has invested in the development of business services by supporting business mentoring programmes, technology centres and centre-of-expertise programmes, and by creating financing instruments. These business support concepts are also exportable and applicable abroad.

Even though the WFA area has undergone a substantial structural change from traditional industry and agriculture to the service industries, most people still derive their livelihoods from traditional industry, trade and services. The structural change of the 1990s has left behind a high level of structural unemployment, which still prevails today. In the coming years the opposite problem is expected: that there will be a lack of skilled labour in many fields as a result of the ageing of the population.

World leaders in the metal and machinery-building industries are located in the area. Their products include mining machines, rock crushing equipment, container handling equipment, marine engines, forestry machines, metal equipment, paper machines, sailboats, windshield production machines and oil drilling equipment.
The wood processing industry produces mechanically processed wood products, pulp, newsprint, tissue and cardboard.
In the automation and information technology sector, companies invest in research, product development and production in the areas of mobile communications, programming and production automation, as well as engaging in digital content production.
In the electrical engineering sector, companies have developed cutting-edge energy production, power control and electricity utilisation systems.
The food production sector includes the country’s largest food producer and many medium sized manufacturers and vegetable growers.
The textile, clothing and leather industries produce significant volumes of fur, leather and textile products.
Freight transportation includes several significant railroad junctions. There are a number of haulage companies relying on the extensive road network, and there are also seaports of national significance at Rauma, Pori, Kaskinen, Vaasa and Pietarsaari.
In the service sector a notable employer is the public sector. The municipalities are obliged to offer basic education, heath care and services for the elderly. Retail business in the area is dominated by major chains. However, the best-known independent, and largest, shopping centre in Finland is located in South Ostrobothnia.

The businesses are leaders in their fields, up to date, skilled and fast to react to changing circumstances in the world. Entrepreneurship is a highly appreciated personal quality.