Mega site in Kouvola supporting local community

Article published by YLE on October 15

atNorth’s first data center in Kouvola is set to begin operations between 2026 and 2027.
The facility will initially employ around 60 people, but the number could grow to several hundred in the future. Around 200 people interested in data center jobs attended the recruitment event.

atNorth plans to hire data center technicians and electricians, among others, and recruitment will begin soon.

The company’s first Kouvola data center will start operating around the turn of 2026–2027. Once completed, the Icelandic company’s new site is expected to employ approximately 60 people at the start.

atNorth also has plans for two additional data centers to be built near the one currently under construction. The company presented its operations and plans on Monday in Kouvola, where around 200 people attended its recruitment event.

According to Taina Ahti-Aalto, atNorth’s Operations Director, Finland, the company’s data centers will eventually provide employment for hundreds of people.
“We expect to employ around 200–300 people. The number and range of roles will depend on factors such as our customers’ needs and the shift arrangements required for maintenance work,” says Ahti-Aalto.

Recruitment in full swing
Several data centers are currently under construction or in the planning stages across Finland. For example, atNorth has ongoing projects in the capital region, while Hyperco is building a data center for social media giant TikTok in Kouvola.
atNorth says it will be hiring data center technicians and electricians for its Kouvola sites, while outsourcing services such as security, equipment maintenance, and other support functions.
The company’s working language is English, and employees must be prepared for shift work.
The recruitment event, held at Kouvola City Hall, attracted a few hundred interested attendees. The company plans to make its first hires by the end of this year.

“I’m definitely going to apply”
Those who attended the event were pleased with what atNorth’s representatives shared.
“I definitely plan to apply. I learned a lot about what working at a data center involves,” says Joni Keinänen.

Laura Fritsch, who has been unemployed for almost a year following redundancy negotiations, said she has applied for remote jobs across Finland. Like Keinänen, she found the data center opportunity appealing.

“It’s the job of the future, so I’ll definitely apply. Right now, Kouvola offers very few opportunities for IT professionals,” Fritsch says.

Pekka Vanhanen, who has a background in electrical and industrial engineering, also said the event made the data center seem like an attractive place to work.
Currently unemployed, Vanhanen is planning to apply as well.
“I got a lot of useful information, but I’d still like to talk more with the company’s representatives to learn a bit more,” he reflects.

Read the original article in Finnish.