Many people who have moved to Finland from abroad have a university degree, but are unable to find work here due to prejudice.
If this group could find jobs that matched their education, the Finnish economy would benefit by around EUR 185 million in tax revenue per year. This is not to mention the multicultural capital, which would be immense.
EQUALITY BRINGS ADDED VALUE.
Rastor-instituutti wants to transform Finnish working life.
In collaboration with Nordic Diversity Trainers, we have developed a training course to help Finnish companies better identify and make use of international expertise. We also offer companies free consultation on diversity.
“As knowledge becomes more diverse and international, Finland mustn’t remain on the periphery.” – Toni Berkowits, CEO
OPEN TRAINING PACKAGE ON DIVERSITY (In Finnish)
FREE DIVERSITY SPARRING/CONSULTING FOR COMPANIES NATIONWIDE (In Finnish)
ECONOMIC GROWTH OR WASTED QUALIFICATIONS? YOU DECIDE.
As messengers for this important topic we have three highly skilled jobseekers who have not been able to put their expertise to good use in Finland because of prejudice. At Rastor-instituutti, we are committed to doing all we can to help them find a job in Finland that matches their training.
OMOLARA ODEDIRAN
" I'm looking for a managerial job in the commercial sector. My superpowers are my intuition and creativity, and I'm also a good team player.
RAJA RYMBAI
" I’m looking for a variety of jobs in marketing and communications. Every time I see an advertisement that matches my skills, I write a new application.
CUCU WESSEH
" I’m looking for work as a team leader. I’m great with people and have more than two decades of experience of working in the social sector.
LAUREN STEVENS
" I would like to work as an advocacy expert, for example. I once believed that my native English language skills would be useful.
MUSTAFA CEKIC
" I decided early on that I wanted to work somewhere other than a pizzeria. In the future, I see myself in a managerial or executive position.
Finland loses €185 million in tax revenue yearly
Finland will not be able to compete internationally without foreign labour. The Confederation of Finnish Industries estimates that by 2035, Finland will need up to 200,000 workers from abroad. Currently, the value of lost work for Finland is estimated to be around €185 million annually, due to the failure to make proper use of educated and skilled talent from abroad.
The total amount of €185 million reflects the estimated annual tax revenue from the wage supplement if the foreign-educated population of individuals with a higher education background who are currently working in a job that does not match their skills were employed in work that matches their skills. This estimate is based on the assumption that workers move into jobs requiring tertiary education from those that do not.
Calculation method and sources
Foreign population aged 15–64 (384,005, Statistics Finland)
X
Level of tertiary education of the foreign population (15–64: 34.1%, OECD)
X
Share of people of a foreign background in jobs that do not match their skills (24%, Statistics Finland)
X
Average monthly wage income of persons with tertiary education vs. persons without tertiary education (€1141.84 per month, Statistics Finland)
X
Annual multiplier, including holiday pay 12.5
X
Tax rate (41.2%, Ministry of Finance Economic Review, spring 2024)
= €184.8 million per year
Q&A
Rastor-instituutti is working to change Finnish working life and help people see the value of international talent. We believe that this will enable more immigrants in Finland to find work that matches their skills and education.
The Työelämäteko working life action campaign makes visible the problems that immigrants in Finland face when looking for work.
Many immigrants in Finland have a university degree, but prejudice makes it difficult for them to find work that matches their education.
According to a study by Statistics Finland, one in five immigrants cannot find a job in Finland that matches their education. This amounts to a massive amount of potential that is practically being scattered to the wind.
We want to not only stimulate debate, but also take practical action to ensure that all job applicants are treated equally.
Rastor-instituutti is working to change Finnish working life, and offers free diversity consultancy and training to companies.
The Työelämäteko working life action campaign draws on three “messengers”, highly educated immigrants in Finland who have not been able to put their skills to good use here.
There are also two others who will contribute to the campaign by telling about the prejudices they have faced in their careers. The messengers for the campaign have all been selected through interviews.
There are three messengers for the Työelämäteko working life action campaign, and Rastor-instituutti is committed to finding them work in Finland that matches their education and skills.
However, the aim is not only to employ the people featured in the campaign, but also to help transform and invigorate Finnish working life by appreciating the value of international talent. The aim is to help future workers succeed on the jobs market and in working life.
The purpose of the campaign is to take a stand for a more equal working life, and it concerns everyone. The campaign message is primarily aimed at policymakers as well as current and future workers. The aim is to open debate, and debates are at their best when open to a multiplicity of voices.
The figure represents the estimated annual tax revenue generated by the salary increase if foreign-born, highly educated individuals working in positions that do not match their skills were instead employed in positions corresponding to their qualifications.
The estimate is based on the assumption that individuals move to positions requiring higher education from those that do not. The calculation is based on data from Statistics Finland, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Ministry of Finance.
It should be noted that the calculation represents only lost tax revenue, not the overall loss to the economy as a whole. In better-paid work, the productivity of workers of foreign background would be likely to be higher, and so the real economic impact would also be higher.
The claim is based on a study by Statistics Finland, a report by the VATT Institute for Economic Research and an estimate by the Confederation of Finnish Industries.
Respondents to the survey by Statistics Finland were asked to assess factors such as the skills required in their current job in relation to their previous job. In the youngest age group in the data, 15–24-year-olds, there were very few who had worked before moving to Finland, while in the 65–74-year-old group there are few who are still employed. Therefore, the survey focuses on those between the ages of 25 and 64.
The Työelämäteko working life action campaign does not target policymakers, and does not take a position on labour-based migration as a macroeconomic phenomenon. It is not the purpose of the campaign to cast blame on individual companies. Instead, the aim is to stimulate change in the Finnish labour market in order to make it more competitive.
As well an opening for discussion, this is a long-term project that is only just beginning. Rastor-instituutti works continuously to promote a better working life.
We are taking action on working life, updating the skills of individuals and the capabilities of companies. In promoting development, it is important to initiate debate and take meaningful action that will have an impact throughout society. We provide education and coaching to help individuals and companies prepare for changes in the labour market.
There are many problems in the labour market that need to be tackled, and efforts to change attitudes have to start somewhere. Rastor-instituutti saw the importance of targeting the prejudices towards with foreign and immigrant backgrounds as part of the Työelämäteko working life action campaign. Labour market discrimination is never acceptable.
It is very likely that in the future, a large number of organisations operating in Finland will recruit immigrants. We are involved in this development based on need.
We also strive to continuously develop as part of Finnish working life. We are an equal opportunities employer, with zero tolerance of discrimination. In every case, the selection criteria are suitability and competence, while factors such as ethnicity, religion or gender are irrelevant.
In our recruitment ads, we will encourage skilled immigrants to apply for our open positions. In this way, we will be helping them find employment in positions that match their education.