Woman working at an office. LEHTIKUVA
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Helsinki is witnessing an increasing influx of individuals moving from foreign countries for job opportunities. The city has made significant strides in its initiatives to boost work-based immigration, as highlighted in a recent report presented to the city’s economic committee.
On October 23, the Economic Committee of the City Council delved into a status report on action plans regarding immigration for work, study, and entrepreneurship.
It also took into account the progress of Helsinki’s integration program for immigrants. Positive advancements were observed in all primary objectives of these programs. Among the measures taken, the city has rolled out targeted campaigns, particularly aimed at attracting foreign professionals in sectors grappling with labor shortages. Efforts have also been channelled to enhance the offerings of the International House Helsinki, a one-stop service point for newcomers in their initial phase of settling.
In line with this, the city has ramped up its English services and communication and enhanced customer-centric approaches. Furthermore, Helsinki has set a target to elevate the proportion of its staff with a foreign background to 17% by 2025, a significant leap from the current 9.7%.
The Global Talent Competitiveness Index for 2022 ranked Helsinki as the 8th most competitive city worldwide in terms of attracting global talent. This is a notable rise, given that in 2021, it was 10th and was 31st in 2020.
Since 2000, Helsinki’s population has grown by 108,554 individuals. As of the end of 2022, the city was home to 123,676 people of foreign descent. In the absence of this segment, the population would have shrunk, with a decline in the working-age group. Thanks to immigration, there has been a marked increase in this demographic. Last year, about half of the work-based immigrants took up blue-collar jobs, while just under 40% came for specialist roles. Overall, the employment situation for immigrants has improved, with the employment rate for those aged 20-64 standing at 57% by the end of 2021. This boost can be attributed to the growth in work-based immigration and better integration efforts.
A new law focusing on promoting integration will come into effect at the start of 2025. This law will transfer the primary responsibility of integration services to municipalities. Helsinki is preparing for this change under the leadership of the city office’s economic department.
The Economic Committee acknowledged the report and also discussed development allocations for plots owned by the city. Details of the committee’s decisions and potential votes can be found in the decision bulletin, which is available on the committee’s documentation page. The next meeting of the Economic Committee is scheduled for November 27, 2023.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
