Towards a slightly more tolerant approach

By Ilkka Mattila
     
      Above all, Finns would like immigrants to be well-educated academic types from the Nordic region and the Anglo-Saxon or English-speaking world.
      According to the attitude studies carried out by social scientist Magdalena Jaakkola, since the 1980s the most popular migrants into Finland have been from Norway and Great Britain.
     
In the most recent assay of opinions, dating from 2003, the Danes take third place.
      The popularity of the Ingrian returnees has waned somewhat, but they are still in 5th, right behind the Swedes and ahead of white Americans.
     
Trained experts, scientists, students, and language teachers seem to be the most welcome occupational groupings.
      On the other hand, it must be said that four years ago an increasing number of Finns approved of immigrants coming to take work as doctors, in child care or as social workers, as cleaners, and as taxi-drivers.
     
Least popular are Russians and Somalis.
      Even so, the attitude towards these immigrants had softened in 2003 by comparison with the tone a decade earlier, when it should also be remembered that Finland was in deep recession.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print in the weekly supplement NYT on 28.9.2007

More on this subject:
 WELCOME TO FINLAND (sort of)

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Who are the newcomers that Finland wants? (13.12.2005)
  Finnish employers fail to take advantage of immigrants´ skills (11.11.2005)
  Attitudes of Finns towards immigrants more positive than previously (27.10.2005)
  Finnish plumber seeks employment (18.10.2005)
  Government calls for more immigrants (19.11.2004)

Links:
  Ministry of Labour - Magdalena Jaakkola (2005) The Attitudes of Finns towards Immigrants (summary available in English, .pdf file)