The overall image of Lappeenranta has risen by 26 positions (from 49th to 23rd) compared to the corresponding study last year. The city’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) also improved significantly – from 51st to 35th place.
Tuomo Sallinen, Mayor of Lappeenranta, considers the study reliable and the results excellent from the city’s perspective.
“We closely monitor this survey by Taloustutkimus every year, as it is very comprehensive and taken seriously by the business community.
Therefore, this rise in Lappeenranta’s overall image from 49th out of 53 to 23rd out of 53 gives at least cautious reason for satisfaction,” Sallinen says with a smile.
Last year’s overall impression score (on a scale from 4 to 10) was 6.90; this year it rose to 7.48, which is above the national average of 7.44.
In addition to overall image, the study evaluates performance in various image factors. In 2023, Lappeenranta ranked 49th out of 53 in the average scores of 13 measured factors. This year, the city climbed to 37th out of 53, corresponding to a score of 7.06 (compared to last year’s 6.90).
“The most improved image factors compared to the previous year were zoning for business operations (+0.84), the municipality’s business-friendliness (+0.67), traffic location and connections (+0.53), and strengthening the municipality’s vitality (+0.51),” Sallinen says.
The other seven factors in the study were:
Availability of labor (+0.35)
Communication from the municipality to businesses (−0.06)
Marketing by the municipality (+0.35)
Cooperation between the municipality and businesses (+0.16)
Support for innovation (+0.19)
Commercial services in the city center (+0.33)
Accessibility of municipal officials (+0.18)
Smooth cooperation with the economic development company (−0.14)
Promotion of international expertise and labor-based immigration (+0.38)
(The figures in parentheses indicate the change compared to the previous year.)
Sallinen is also pleased with the significant improvement in the Net Promoter Score (NPS):
“Our score increased by 27 points, which indicates that businesses feel we are doing things better than before.
Our investments in business services and our open and goal-oriented communication with companies are now bearing fruit. It is essential to listen carefully to what company representatives have to say, as they know the real conditions and needs that either support or hinder business operations.”
The Municipal Image Survey is an annual tracking study conducted by Taloustutkimus that assesses business decision-makers’ views of municipalities and cities as operating environments. The survey includes Finland’s 53 largest cities and municipalities and was conducted via telephone-assisted online questionnaires in autumn 2024. A total of 2,335 business leaders responded, with 66 respondents evaluating Lappeenranta.
Lappeenranta has improved its position in all image and vitality surveys conducted during the current year.
A recently published municipal survey by the consultancy WSP covered all 293 municipalities in mainland Finland, assessing vitality from the perspective of future readiness using a vitality index. Lappeenranta ranked 65th – nine positions better than a year ago – with a vitality index of 132.
In the spring Taloustutkimus Municipal Barometer, Lappeenranta ranked 10th and scored above average overall. Compared to the previous study from 2022, the city rose four positions.
The results of the South Karelia entrepreneur survey are expected to be reported later this year.
Further Information:
Tuomo Sallinen
Mayor, City of Lappeenranta
Phone: +358 40 624 1422
https://www.taloustutkimus.fi/tuotteet-palvelut/valmiit-tutkimukset/kuntien-imago-tutkimus.html