Spain is abuzz with heated debates about fair pay and real opportunities for young people. The spark was an unexpected example from Finland that has challenged long-held beliefs about how much you can earn without a university degree. For many Spaniards, this story has prompted reflection on their own prospects and on how open the local job market truly is to new forms of employment.
The spotlight is on Tiina Raitio, a 27-year-old Finnish woman working at the warehouse of a major logistics company in Vantaa. Her salary reaches €3,800 per month, and neither a diploma nor special qualifications are required. In Spain, such wages for warehouse workers seem out of reach, fueling even greater interest in the Finnish model.
A stress-free job
Tiina came to logistics after spending several years in offices and at a checkout counter. She was looking not only for stability but also for a job that would let her completely disconnect after a shift. In her current role, that became a reality: no evening calls, no urgent emails or tasks to handle during off-hours. All she needs to do is show up, do her part, and go home.
Physical activity, a variety of tasks, and a clear shift structure define her workday. Tiina has mastered forklift operation, order picking via voice commands, automated systems, and shelf restocking. She notes that the simplicity of some processes has been a real relief after the stress of office work. “Voice picking is like a vacation for the brain,” she shares. In Spain, such ‘switching off’ from work outside of your shift is rare, especially given the constant overtime and pressure.
Efficiency dependency
Tiina’s salary includes not only a base rate but also bonuses for productivity, quality, night shifts, and weekend work. In Finland, the minimum wage for warehouse workers is about €2,132, but thanks to incentives, the final sum can nearly double. Over a year, Tiina earns around €45,000—a figure that seems almost unbelievable in Spain.
She admits that money is a motivator but doesn’t force her to work to the point of exhaustion. Internal reports allow her to track efficiency, but no one demands constant top performance. This approach to wages and shift organization surprises Spanish workers, used to rigid schedules and limited opportunities to increase income.
Spanish reality
In Spain, the average salary for a warehouse worker in 2025 ranges from 970 to 1,718 euros per month. Even after twenty years of experience, few earn more than 1,650 euros. Beginners have to settle for slightly more than 760 euros. Most people in this sector work on temporary or part-time contracts, which directly affects the stability and amount of their income.
Additional pay for night shifts, weekends, and holidays exists, but is not always guaranteed by collective agreements. As a result, many Spaniards are forced to look for side jobs or accept instability. Compared to the Finnish story, this situation looks especially stark and raises questions about fairness and prospects for young people.
A challenge for the system
Tiina Raitio’s story has sparked debate not only about salaries, but about attitudes toward work in general. In Spain, many ask: why can a simple job in one country provide a decent income and not become a source of stress, while in another it remains synonymous with instability and low pay? Both experts and workers themselves are searching for answers, comparing conditions and dreaming of change.
As the Spanish labor market continues to change, similar examples from abroad are becoming increasingly relevant. They prompt a reassessment of established views and encourage the search for new ways to improve quality of life and work. Whether the Finnish experience can be repeated in Spain remains an open question—and for this reason, the topic stays in the spotlight.
