Atria employs hundreds of summer workers

Atria Group will employ hundreds of summer workers this summer. Young people will be hired to work in nearly all of Atria’s production plants for the summer. The biggest employer is Atria Finland, offering work for a total of some 700 summer workers at the Nurmo, Kauhajoki and Kuopio production plants. There were almost 2,500 applicants this year.

In Finland, the majority of the summer workers will be employed at Atria’s Nurmo plant, where the summer season products are produced, including Wilhelm grill sausages and meat patties, Atria grill skewers, meats, meat products, vegetables and summer salads. The summer season starts by the latest on May Day and summer work in May–July.

Summer work patches up the biggest season

In the last three years, the share of summer jobs offered by Atria has remained nearly unchanged. “In Finland, approximately the same number of summer relief workers have been hired as in the last few years,” says Tapio Palolahti, Director of Human Resources at Atria Finland. “Summer workers are needed in Finland, as summer is the biggest season of the year and also the holiday period of permanent employees.”

There are slightly fewer open vacancies at Atria Group’s foreign sites than in Finland. A total of a few hundred workers are hired, mainly in production jobs at the foreign sites (Scandinavia, the Baltic Countries and Russia). “The work is not as seasonal at Atria's foreign sites as it is in Finland. Over there, most of summer worker needs can be covered with internal holiday and job rotation arrangements also in production,” says Seija Pietilä, Atria Group's Vice President of Human Resources.

People of all ages seek summer work at Atria

The profile of summer workers has changed recently, particularly in Finland. In the past, applicants were young people and students. Today, we also have clearly more mature applicants, whose experience makes them good and valuable employees.

Atria has a lot of young employees who have worked at Atria for several consecutive years and who are students of the food industry. “A summer job is an excellent opportunity for both parties. Young people gain experience and perspective, while Atria gets skilled and enthusiastic workforce that brings new ideas. At the same time, a summer job can be a gate to even permanent employment after graduation,” says Seija Pietilä.

Work in production and in the office

Summer jobs mainly start in May–June, when production has already accelerated to the speed required by the summer season. The majority of summer workers continue in their jobs until the end of August.

In addition to production tasks, students in the field are hired for various servicing and maintenance jobs, and to office duties. Although there is an array of different summer jobs, summer workers are not suitable for all duties. Jobs requiring solid, specialised expertise are out of the reach of students.

Atria requires a minimum age of 18 and a hygiene pass of all its summer workers. Food industry studies are considered an advantage.

For further information, please contact:
- Tapio Palolahti, Director, Human Resources, Atria Finland, tel. +358 40 751 9351
- Seija Pietilä, Group Vice President, Human Resources, Atria Group, tel. +46 722 118 988