Poll: majority want more immigrants, accept export of jobs

A majority of Finns feel that the tendency of manufacturing jobs moving to China and other countries with low production costs is inevitable and must be accepted. According to a poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup, a majority is also willing to accept more immigrants into Finland.
      The poll found that 51 per cent feel that Finland should concentrate on manufacturing products in which competitiveness allows for higher labour costs.
      A minority - 39 per cent - felt that measures should be taken to prevent jobs from leaving the country, including the active promotion of immigration.
      There was a sharp gender gap, with 57 per cent of men feeling resigned to the loss of manufacturing jobs, while only 44 per cent of women felt the same way.
     
Those aged 25 to 49, as well as high-ranking white collar workers, managers, and entrepreneurs tended to feel that Finland should concentrate on products in which the competitive situation permits higher labour costs.
      Supporters of the National Coalition Party and the Centre Party were more likely than others to share these sentiments, while supporters of the parties of the left were more likely to disagree.
     
A majority, 55 per cent, feel that Finland should take in more immigrants, while 39 per cent are opposed to more immigration.
      The proportion is the same as in January, the previous time that the matter was taken up. Women were more likely than men to want more immigration.
      Supporters of the Green League were the most pro-immigrant, with 77 per cent wanting more immigration.
      Majorities of supporters of all five largest parties were willing to accept more immigrants.
     
Most accepting of immigration were residents of the Uusimaa area, and especially the Helsinki region. Those with a university education were also pro-immigrant. More than half of manual labourers and the unemployed were against more immigration.
      More than half want to keep the current practice, according to which work permits are granted only if there is a shortage of labour in the immigrant's profession.
      Supporters of the Greens were the only group in which a majority would drop this requirement.
      More than half of those aged 15 to 24 were willing to relax rules for work permits.
     
The poll involved telephone interviews with 1,003 Finns aged 15 and above from all parts of the country except the Åland Islands. The interviews took place between the 19th and 27th of September.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Paavo Väyrynen sparks criticism over immigration comment (18.9.2007)
  Immigration maintains urban population growth in Finland (21.5.2007)
  Perlos factories to shut down by September (6.3.2007)
  Poll: Small majority do not see immigration as solution to labour shortage in Helsinki region (4.1.2007)
  Labour market leaders say China syndrome has been misunderstood (8.9.2004)
  Helsingin Sanomat enquiries suggest impact of "China Syndrome" relatively minor (22.6.2006)
  Battery charger plant moves from Lapland to China (25.11.2003)