Study shows immigrants have good capacity for work

Lack of language skills not seen as decisive impediment to employment

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A fresh study by the Pellervo Institute of Econmomic Research (PTT) indicates that 87 per cent of immigrants are in excellent shape for work. Those immigrants who have jobs have as good capacity for work as native wage-earners, and unemployed immigrants are actually in better condition on average than jobless native Finns.
     In spite of a high capacity for work, immigrants are still having problems getting jobs. The unemployment rate among immigrants is about 20 per cent.
     To measure capacity for work, the researchers used an index containing seven variables. It emphasised the applicant’s physical ability to work, but linguistic skill was not seen as a factor.
     
According to the study, lack of language skills is not a decisive impediment to employment for immigrants. Half of those immigrants who do not speak Finnish well nevertheless have jobs, said PTT economist Markus Lahtinen on Monday.
     Minister of Labour Tarja Cronberg (Green) said that employer mindsets are the biggest problem in getting immigrants jobs. “Employers who have experiences with immigrants, have a positive attitude”, she added.
     Cronberg said that getting an immigrant a first job in Finland is of decisive importance for getting a career started.
     Distorting the results is the fact that the study focussed on immigrants who are in a better position than average. In spite of the distortions, Cronberg called the results of the study encouraging.
     The study showed that immigrants comprise a significant labour reserve of 20,000 people, who will be increasingly needed as the baby boom generation retire.
     
The researchers recommend offering more work orientation to immigrants. They propose a number of measures to support employers to offset the costs of hiring immigrants.
     Cronberg defended public employment services, which she says comprise “the most effective labour policy”. She said that she opposes a state productivity programme that would reduce the number of state jobs.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Higher employment level for immigrants would save Helsinki millions (3.10.2008)
  Work-based immigration grows by 60 per cent (22.5.2008)

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