Immigrants find employment in Finland best by asking for work directly from employers
In general, immigrants find employment best by asking for work directly from employers. It is also quite common for them to find employment through acquaintances. On the other hand, few immigrants find employment through the TE Office or private employment services. The result is from a study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), which examined the different ways in which immigrants gained employment in Finland in 2018–2019.
Other channels for finding employment that were examined in addition to the ones mentioned above included gaining employment by submitting job applications or through a work placement related to one’s studies.
"The starting points for the employment of immigrants are good, because studies show that immigrants are highly educated, proficient in languages and have the ability to work and are willing to work. Extensive cooperation is needed to improve attitudes in working life, and to improve the networking of jobseekers and the provision of services," says Sanna Nykänen, Planning Officer at THL.
More than one third of women in Southwest Finland find employment with by submitting an application
The study found differences between regions and genders. For example, in Kymenlaakso, finding employment through the TE Office was very rare, whereas in North Karelia and Satakunta, jobseekers were more likely to find employment through the TE Office, even if only about one in ten had gained employment this way.
Women often find employment by applying to a job advertisement, especially in Southwest Finland. But in North Karelia almost one in four women had found employment through a work placement.
In North Savo, almost half of men find employment by asking for work from employers directly. In Kanta-Häme, on the other hand, men often find employment through acquaintances, and in Kymenlaakso relatively often through private employment services.
Attention should be paid to the employment pathways of immigrants
Immigrants who have moved to Finland from Africa (excl. North Africa) were most likely to find employment by asking employers for work directly, whereas those who moved from Estonia very often found employment through acquaintances. Women in the Middle East and North Africa groups found employment relatively often through the TE Office. Gaining employment by submitting an application is common among women in the EU, EFTA and North America groups, while men in the same groups often find employment by contacting an employer.
According to their self-assessment, the majority of immigrants of working age have a high work ability and willingness to participate in working life in Finland, but their position in working life is less favourable that of those with a Finnish background. It is important draw attention to factors such as recognising the competence immigrants have, the retention and attractiveness of Finnish working life and the dismantling of discriminatory practices in working life.
"Employment is a significant factor in integration. We should pay closer attention to employment pathways to ensure that gaining employment is more efficient. The realisation of equality in job-seeking regardless of a person’s background is essential," says Manu Jalonen, visiting researcher at THL.
The study is based on THL's FinMONIK survey on well-being among persons of foreign origin. The study was funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
Further information
How do immigrants find employment?- employment channels for immigrants in Finland. (in Finnish) Summarised from the study 44/2023 by THL.
Manu Jalonen
Visiting researcher
THL
Tel. +358 40 1597 698
[email protected]
Sanna Nykänen
Planning Officer
THL
Tel. +358 29 524 8553
[email protected]
