Immigrant women in Finland are reporting that the social climate and job opportunities have become harder in recent years. A new survey by E2 Tutkimus found that more than half of the respondents, 52 percent, felt the societal atmosphere had worsened for immigrants, while only 22 percent believed the situation had improved.
Economic pressures, rising unemployment, and exclusion from the labour market were among the main reasons given. Many of the women said they have felt more rejection when trying to find work, pointing to both employer attitudes and the effects of government policies on job opportunities.
The study was commissioned by the trade union confederation STTK and looked closely at the challenges facing highly educated immigrant women. In addition to the survey, researchers carried out interviews with immigrant women as well as professionals working in employment and integration services.
Labour market conditions stood out as one of the biggest concerns. Reduced job opportunities and structural unemployment have created more obstacles, and several women connected the worsening climate directly to the current government’s policy approach.
At the same time, some positive aspects were highlighted. Participants pointed out that Finnish working life often has low hierarchies and a healthy separation between work and personal life, which they viewed as strengths.
Public services were another area of criticism. Many respondents said employment and integration services are overstretched. According to professionals interviewed, the 2025 shift of employment services from the state to municipalities has put more pressure on local staff. Budget cuts under the current government have reduced resources for job programmes and individual coaching.
Caseworkers now have less time to provide tailored support, which has made it harder for immigrant women in Finland to receive the help they need. Still, 43 percent of the respondents reported that they had received some form of job-seeking assistance from public employment offices.
University-led spouse programmes and city initiatives were mentioned as valuable alternatives. These services often provide information about Finnish work culture, employer expectations, and the job application process. Several women said these programmes gave them a clearer understanding of how the Finnish job market differs from that in their home country.
The survey also revealed how important personal networks are for finding work in Finland. One in five employed respondents said they had found their current job through a personal recommendation. Another 20 percent learned about opportunities from their contacts.
For many, the reliance on personal referrals was surprising. One respondent explained, “I network with maintenance staff, cleaners, anyone, because a job opportunity can come through anyone. I learned networking during my PhD research.”
The study concluded that although Finland has structured systems in place, job market access remains uneven for immigrant women in Finland. Networks and personal referrals continue to play a decisive role, leaving many women at a disadvantage if they lack local contacts.
