There is a need for international experts

Labour immigration brings experts in different fields to Finland from all over the world. Espoo wants to promote the attraction of experts and support their settling in and integration into the Finnish society. Three highly educated immigrants are here to talk about their experiences.

Sami Kazi, Research Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, feels he has been lucky. In 1999, he went on a researcher exchange in Otaniemi as part of his postgraduate studies at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, and only a year later, he was recruited. He is still on that path

“I know that finding work in Finland is much harder for many immigrants. It’s often due to the lack of Finnish language skills and networks”, says Kazi, who lives in Otaniemi with his family.

Kazi, born in Pakistan and educated in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Thailand, has lived most of his life in Finland. He considers Finland a safe country and tips his hat to Espoo, which has invested in promoting labour immigration in recent years. But there is still much work to be done.

“High taxation and certain cultural differences, such as the honesty and directness of Finns and the lack of hierarchy, may pose challenges. If you want people to stay, you need to invest in integration”, Kazi sums up.

Kazi has gained the nicknames “Finland fan” and “Market man” among his wife and colleagues, and he finds both fitting. Kazi brims with pride for his current home country, where he has lived happily for 23 years.

“Living in Finland has taught me that having a balanced and good life is more important than money. Here, it is possible.”

Efforts should be made to make Finland an even more attractive target for international talents. Labour immigration brings skilled professionals from all over the world to Finland, enriching the society. This is the mindset of the CEO of SemiQon, Himadri Majumdar from India. He and his family have lived in Finland since 2004, when he started as a researcher at Åbo Akademi University.

“A positive and accepting atmosphere requires the efforts of not only the Finns but also us immigrants. It’s a two-way street. I hope that everyone will do their part for integration”, he summarises.

Majumdar's career path led to Otaniemi in 2012 as VTT's Senior Researcher. His wife holds a similar position at VTT. The family has three key reasons for staying in Finland: inspiring work in an international environment that matches their education, good social security and health care system and an internationally competitive education system that their daughters have been able to enjoy.

“The attitudes towards immigrants have improved over these 20 years. I feel that Finland is a very safe country also for immigrants. The attitudes might be particularly positive in the technology sector that I represent, as English is the most common working language and there is a shortage of experts”, Majumdar says.

The first winter in 2019 was the most difficult one. It was dark, cold and slushy. American student Betsy Akins was grateful to her thesis supervisor, who told her about the Three Key C’s that would help: candy, coffee and candles. Aqua jogging and sauna have since brought additional relief to the winter season.

“The cons of living in Finland are the cold, slush and the difficulty of Finnish. The pros are summers, sauna and wonderful people. I’m happy that I decided to settle in Finland for good. Finns appreciate the work-life balance, nature, quietness as well as each other. And the cinnamon rolls are heavenly”, Akins says with a laugh.

Studying Finnish has felt like studying a mysterious code. Akins feels that the language is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for many. Many immigrants are highly educated and motivated, but finding a job often fails due to the lack of Finnish language skills. The City of Espoo has been lucky to find Akins to supplement the team at Espoo Talent Hub.

“I really appreciate my employer who has succeeded in creating a linguistically flexible and diverse working environment. Here, I can fully invest in my work and learn the language on the side", she says.

Akins grew up in the periphery of Ohio in a family of six children. She has always had relatives in Finland, and she made her first visit to the country as a child. Summer nights at the cottage, white Christmases and forest walks left an impression on her. After graduating as a Bachelor of Clinical Psychology and German Language and Literature, Akins moved to Austria for work. In August 2019, the journey continued to Finland and to the Master's Programme in Design at Aalto University.

“Finland is the safest place I've ever lived in. Here, people care about me as a person. Of course, I’m also aware of my privileged position: I look like a Finn and only stand out of the crowd when I start speaking Finnish. For people from many other countries, settling in can be more difficult.”

Text: Maria Paldanius

This article was published as a part of a publication Impact when Otaniemi flaps its wings.