Immigrants in Helsinki learning Finnish and finding work more easily
Integration into Finnish society remains slow
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The integration of immigrants into Finnish society is going in a positive direction. However, problems and challenges remain.
While there are many positive trends, integration appears to be quite slow, and there are differences in the degree of adaptation among the various immigrant groups.
Researchers Riku Perhoniemi and Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti asked 457 people from seven different immigrant groups how they have adapted to the Helsinki region.
When the first study was made in 1997, the respondents to a questionnaire had lived in Finland for an average six years; when the second was made, in 2004, the respondents had been in Finland an average 13 years.
In the seven years between the studies, the immigrants' knowledge of Finnish had improved significantly, and employment had increased. Employment seemed to correlate fairly strongly with language skills.
The percentage of immigrants with jobs has risen from 36 in 1997 to 62. The employment rate has grown especially among Russians, Estonians, and Ingrians.
The desire of immigrants to adapt to Finnish society has remained strong. However, the desire to assimilate into the population at large has waned.
A greater willingness to adapt than to assimilate is suggested by the fact that while members of certain immigrant groups had many native Finnish friends, they still insist on holding on to their own ethnic identity and family values.
One indication of fairly successful integration was that economic concerns, health problems, and marginalisation had not significantly piled up on the same individuals and same groups.
Somalis and Arabs had experienced more discrimination than others, and therefore, they often tend to keep to themselves. Somalis also have more economic problems than many others, as only one in four had work in 2004.
Somalis appeared to have no shortage of friends, although, perhaps surprisingly, they said that they got fairly little practical support from their compatriots.
Language skills of Arab immigrants had not improved significantly in seven years, although half of them had jobs, and although they had as many Finnish friends as others.
Russians tended to have a more negative impression about Finns, and often keep their distance, even though they did not report experiencing much discrimination. Many Russians said that they only had Russian friends.
Vietnamese felt that their knowledge of Finnish and their own mother tongue was weak. Many also said that they lacked friends.
Estonians and Turks living in Finland reported a strong knowledge of Finnish, because many of them are married to Finns and speak it at home.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 26.5.2006 - TODAY |
 Immigrants in Helsinki learning Finnish and finding work more easily |
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