The significance of integration for the national economy

Finland has labour shortages in several sectors; in addition to domestic workers, Finland essentially needs foreign ones as well. Immigrant integration is significant in assessing solutions to ageing demographics and declining birth rates. The integration policy aims to integrate migrants into Finland’s sustainable future. Good integration of immigrants will play a vital role in the consequences of immigration. When new arrivals integrate into the Finnish Society and do well in integrating into new environments and the labour market, immigration can significantly have positive impact on public finances. Therefore, to support the integration of new arrivals, properly targeted measures of society are needed.

The Government has identified that firstly, knowledgeable immigration supports Finland’s economic growth; secondly, effective integration services facilitate the attractiveness of a skilled workforce; and thirdly, good population relations and positive attitudes towards immigration support the attachment of immigrants to Finland. The starting point of immigration policy is to keep immigration active, managed and anticipated to make knowledgeable and skilled labour available in employment and businesses necessary in the future, but to maintain overall population growth controlled. The talented people who move to the country will bring more innovation and skills to Finland. Working life will become more diverse, and the overall know-how increases as Finland becomes globalised, increasing in attractiveness in the international labour market and bringing even more talent and experts to Finland.

Providing effective integration services and promoting the integration will support the active role of the immigrant in society and a strengthened sense of social cohesion. At the same time, society and the labour market are influenced by immigrants and become more diverse. This kind of activity increases the well-being of immigrants, as well as improves the attractiveness of Finland. The need for services that help the adaptation to Finland is individual – it depends on the preferences of those moving to the country. Support for integration can be facilitated, for example, by entering an accompanying spouse into the labour market or learning the Finnish or Swedish language of the family’s children. Integration and other services that take account of the whole family contribute to the enjoyment and stay here in Finland, contribute to the inclusion of people on the labour market and their family members in Finnish society and good everyday life.