Kuntien imago 2024 survey: Jyväskylä ranked second overall among Finnish cities with over 100,000 inhabitants

The City of Jyväskylä has achieved the second place in overall impression among cities with over 100,000 inhabitants in the 2024 Kuntien imago survey conducted by Taloustutkimus. The study evaluates the performance of municipalities as perceived by companies and business decision-makers. Jyväskylä's most notable improvements were in the categories of business-friendliness and cooperation between the city and companies. Additionally, the city made significant progress in promoting international expertise and labor immigration compared to the previous year. Overall, Jyväskylä's business image ranks as above average. In the study, Jyväskylä achieved a general score of 7.61, exceeding the national average of 7.44.

In 2024, based on overall impression ratings from respondents, Jyväskylä ranked second among cities with over 100,000 inhabitants and fifth among those with over 40,000 inhabitants. Compared to the previous year, Jyväskylä climbed three places in the rankings for cities with over 100,000 inhabitants, having been fifth in 2023. The city received a general impression score of 7.61, while the average for all municipalities was 7.44. Jyväskylä's highest ratings were in the categories of transport connections and accessibility (7.70), promotion of international expertise and labor immigration (7.64), business-friendliness (7.55), smooth collaboration with the economic development company (7.42), and cooperation between the city and companies (7.21).

• Rising to second place among cities with over 100,000 inhabitants is a remarkable achievement, reflecting sustained efforts and strategic development of the city's vitality. Particularly encouraging is the improvement in business-friendliness and collaboration with companies. The positive trend in fostering international expertise and labor immigration also strengthens Jyväskylä’s position as an attractive environment for business and residents. Our goal is to continue collaborating with businesses and better meet their needs to ensure Jyväskylä remains a desirable location for both companies and residents, says Jyväskylä's Mayor, Timo Koivisto.

The survey respondents rated 13 image factors on a scale from 4 to 10. These factors included business-friendliness, zoning for business purposes, availability of labor, smooth collaboration with the economic development company, strengthening municipal vitality, city-business cooperation, communication with businesses, city marketing, innovation support, commercial services in the city center, transport connections and accessibility, accessibility of municipal officials, and promotion of international expertise and labor immigration.

• We focus on enhancing the city's vitality and the conditions for business operations because the success of companies and the region go hand in hand. It is gratifying to see that our long-term work, particularly in promoting business-friendliness, collaboration with companies, and international expertise, is reflected in improved survey results, says Ari Tolonen, Director of Business Development and Employment Services for the City of Jyväskylä. In early 2025, the transfer of Public Employment Services to municipal responsibility will represent a significant operational and organizational change. This transition provides an excellent opportunity for the city to integrate employment services into its vitality services and address the needs of businesses more comprehensively. The study confirms that we are on the right path and motivates us to continue developing the collaboration between the city and businesses in the future," Tolonen adds.

The Kuntien imago study gathers evaluations from companies and business decision-makers (a total of 2,435 respondents). The survey also considers perceptions of municipalities from respondents who do not conduct business in those areas. It includes Finland's 53 largest municipalities (with over 20,000 residents) and their regional economic development organizations. The data collection was conducted via phone-informed online surveys and supplemented with Taloustutkimus’ internet panel between 16 August and 21 October 2024.

For more information:
City of Jyväskylä
Mayor Timo Koivisto, +358 50 336 2819
Director of Business Development and Employment Services, Ari Tolonen, +358 40 556 7822