Not much to write home about

Highest non-Finnish employment rate is 57% i.e. 43% unemployment rate!!!! 
 
No wonder Finland struggles to attract and retain foreign labour.

language skills the biggest hindrance

The key word there is "with Finnish skills". Instead of writing home one needs to sit in a language class, and as we all know Finnish is quite a challenge.

who judges the language

Is there a test in place to determine "sufficient Finnish skills"? Many, including myself, who are educated with experience and qualifications and speak great Finnish are still told the same about the language yet Stockman, for example, has a test for employees in order for the employee to have the English speaking flag on their collar yet cannot explain where the bathroom is in clear simple English. Other City leaders have "good English skills" on their CV yet cannot hold a simple conversation about the weather. 
 
So, what happens to the international person after they have gained a clear fluency in Finnish language? Are they then guaranteed a job in a field other than cleaning, cafes, or grocery stores.. Good discussion

who judges the language

in Finnish. Therefore, I have no problems in everyday life here - not with making an appointment at the hairdresser's, not with explaining difficult things like different symptoms to a medical doctor. I even passed written university tests using Finnish language. I understand everything I hear in the Finnish radio, everything I read in the Finnish newspaper.  
However, I still remember the comment I have heard from a Finn when talking about employment: "You'll never find a job here because of your language problems." In other words: Speaking 3 languages fluently (including Finnish) is (still) a language problem, because I have an accent in my Finnish. It is quite perfect but it sounds weird to locals not used to hearing foreigners speaking Finnish.  
And yes, I have problems to find a job here despite of good education and my fluent Finnish skills. I refuse to believe that this is only xenophobia .. the job situation is difficult here, also for natives.  
However, I doubt that the key word is only "Finnish skills". The subject is much more complex.

who judges the language

Racism in Finland? What, really? Never!

who judges the language

...agree. I am fluent in Finnish too and have no problem communicating and even hear that "Wow, your Finnish is great by the common man" and naturally an accent. The accent is used as the "language difficulty"... Yet, the beauty lies in the accent and one who travels to any native English speaking country will quickly notice that in many cases, one cannot understand any word the foreigner says. In other cases, the English language skills are sufficient and the person qualified to do the job, end of discussion.  
 
It's like I say, at first, employers said my Finnish wasn't good enough, so I learned and became fluent. Then, the employers claimed they had no money, yet employing others left and right.. Now, they say my hair is brown, so I dyed it blonde and even bought a Karpat jersey. The excuses, unless in the hi tech sector, are like the energizer bunny, they keep going, and going, and going....

who judges the language

So, what happens to the international person after they have gained a clear fluency in Finnish language? Are they then guaranteed a job in a field other than cleaning, cafes, or grocery stores.. 
 
Probably there, unless they have valid qualifications for other jobs. The companies hire from abroad people with a talent they look - the problem is people who think they have talent come in, and think they are somehow entitled to jump the queue of locals, who not also have the right qualifications, from the right university, speaking the right languages, know the right way to do things, but most of all know the right people - as they have the network established. 
 
If you expect the local job market to employ you because you are some gift of god then you really do have a problem with xenophobia and racism.