Workforce or future citizens? Attitudes towards migration need a breath of fresh air

Media release, 10 April 2025, embargoed until 10 April  1 pm  

"Few societies would have been able to develop without people moving across borders or regions," says Seija Jalagin, University Lecturer in History from the University of Oulu.

Studies show that the employment and educational opportunities of refugees from the interwar period and their descendants improved with the development of the welfare state, but also because the state and municipalities expected them to become permanent residents.

This is the perspective from which migrants should be seen: as people who come to Finland to become permanent residents and citizens.

In many respects, Finland is a good and attractive country to live in: its strengths include good quality of life and a high level of competence. Finland is also a family-friendly country to live in.

However, attitudes towards migrants in Finland are more negative compared with other Nordic countries, also migrants do not have equal opportunities in the Finnish labour market. Finland does not always appear to be receptive.

How can Finland become more receptive?

There are ways to build receptiveness in Finland. Attitudes can be influenced by sharing information on the social impact of migration backed by research. On the other hand, each of us can promote justice and inclusion in workplaces, schools, hobbies, and neighbourhoods – and be part of creating communities where everyone can feel that they belong.

However, individual-level means are not enough, companies that employ migrants, for example, play a key role in building receptiveness in Finland.

• "The availability of skilled workforce is vital for companies, and immigration of skilled workers is one way to increase the supply of skilled workforce, innovation and the companies' productivity. Nonetheless, companies still have a lot to do in making international experts equal members of the work community," says Antti Kauhanen, Research Director from Etla.

Integration has been studied in Finland, but so far reliable information is only available regarding the effects of very specific integration-related reforms. However, researchers who have examined the effectiveness of integration services emphasise the long-term benefits.

– Some of the benefits of measures such as integration training arise over a long period of time and can be difficult to measure. Costs, on the other hand, arise quickly and are fairly easy to detect," emphasises Hanna Pesola, Chief Researcher at VATT Institute for Economic Research.

Maintaining trust is in everyone’s interest

The welfare state and its structures have played a significant role in creating trust among both immigrants and the majority population. On the other hand, as the population ages and the working-age population shrinks, migrants are becoming an increasingly important part of the future of the welfare state.

"When the majority population can rely on a well-functioning welfare system that takes care of everyone, prejudice towards migrants may also be reduced." says Maria Vaalavuo, Senior Researcher at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

In future Finland, good and trust-building relations between population groups are the result of today’s actions.

See also

Discussion session: Tuuletusta maahanmuuttokeskusteluun 10 April 2025, Think Corner, Helsinki.The event was organised by the DEMOGRAPHY programme funded by the Strategic Research Council 

Study: Mitä oikeastaan tiedämme maahanmuuttajien kotoutumispolitiikan vaikuttavuudesta? — The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE
Hanna Pesola, Matti Sarvimäki and Tuomo Virkola

Study: Skilled foreign workers in Finland, Etla report Kauhanen Antti, Maczulskij Terhi, Riukula Krista, Ropponen Olli

Additional information

Seija Jalagin, Adjunct Professor, University of Oulu, Mobile Futures, seija.jalagin@oulu.fi, tel. +358 (0)40 778 9021
Antti Kauhanen, Research Director, ETLA, LIFECON, antti.kauhanen@ETLA.fi, tel. +358 (0)50 569 7627
Hanna Pesola, Chief Resercher, VATT, SustAgeable, hanna.pesola@vatt.fi, tel. 0295 519 438
Maria Vaalavuo, Chief Resercher, THL, SustAgeable, maria.vaalavuo@thl.fi, tel. 029 524 6754