Sweden is one of Finland’s most important trading partners, and therefore Swedish proficiency is crucial in the world of work. In fact, the value of Swedish skills is second only to English, and the higher the position applied for, the greater the importance of Swedish in career advancement. The importance of Swedish in working life has risen still further due to increased Nordic integration. Additionally, public servants in positions requiring an academic degree and located in bilingual jurisdictions are required by law to possess the Swedish skills necessary for their field.