Students in a laboratory. Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva
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Young adults with foreign backgrounds born in Finland are less likely to be employed or in education compared to their Finnish-background peers, according to a government report released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
The report identifies that among Finnish-born residents aged 18 to 29, those whose parents were born abroad are more often unemployed or entirely outside the labour force. The same group is also less likely to pursue or complete studies, based on data provided by Statistics Finland.
According to the ministry’s definition, a person has a foreign background if both parents or the only known parent were born outside Finland.
“There is a growing group of young people with immigrant roots who were born and raised in Finland, yet they are not succeeding in work or study at the same rate as others,” Minna Säävälä, lead specialist at the ministry’s integration unit, said.
Over the past decade, the number of Finnish-born people with foreign backgrounds has tripled from 30,000 to 90,000. Of these, at least 15,000 are aged 18 to 29 and educated in Finland. Most live in the Helsinki metropolitan area, where employment opportunities are more concentrated.
Despite Finnish fluency, jobseekers with foreign backgrounds often face hiring discrimination. Many employers assume non-Finnish names indicate poor language skills.
Jamila Mohamud, a civil engineering professional who now runs a café in Malmi, Helsinki, said she was once rejected for a job due to supposed lack of Finnish language proficiency. The employer’s response cited Finnish skills as a requirement, despite Mohamud being fluent.
She previously worked on the Western Metro expansion project in the capital area and held several roles in engineering design.
Recruitment bias, although slightly reduced in recent years, still impacts hiring decisions, Säävälä said.
Employment segregation is also evident in sectoral data. According to Statistics Finland’s 2023 figures, immigrant-background workers are most often employed in the care sector. Retail is also a common field of study, though work is harder to secure in that sector.
Sagal Dualeh, aged in her early twenties, was born in Helsinki and aspires to become a doctor. She is currently on a study break. Alongside a friend, she founded a women’s organisation aimed at supporting people with immigrant backgrounds.
Dualeh said expectations placed on girls from Somali families can be high, and her mother, a nurse, pushed her children toward further education.
“My mother made sure that we kids ended up in upper secondary school,” Dualeh said.
Dualeh grew up speaking native Finnish and is part of a second generation of Somali-Finnish youth who often find themselves navigating both cultural and institutional barriers.
Sakariye Ali, 26, moved to Finland as a teenager. He was born in Somalia and raised in Kenya before arriving to live with his sister. He studies social services at Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Vantaa.
Ali held several manual jobs before his studies, including flyer distributor, cleaner, ship cleaner, factory worker, retail staff, security guard, and taxi driver.
He also completed his Finnish military service, which he described as a rare experience of full equality.
“During military service, I was proud to be a Finnish citizen. Everyone dressed the same, ate the same food, and followed the same rules. People advanced in their roles based on hard work,” Ali said.
After military service, Ali noticed that his Finnish-born roommate quickly gained better access to jobs and opportunities, despite their similar qualifications.
Ali now serves as chair of Somali Students of Finland, a group he founded. He said many immigrant-background students consider leaving the country if the situation does not improve.
Säävälä said improving regional employment is also a concern. While jobs are mostly concentrated in Helsinki, she believes opportunities must be extended across Finland.
“Better regional employment support is needed for these youth,” she said.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
