New explorations in Finnish migration studies: the emerging case of the skilled migrants
Résumé
Finland has traditionally not been a country of immigration. The number of immigrants is still comparatively small. Research in the field has concentratedon culturally distant groups and their problems in integrating into Finnish society. The first studies of 2nd generation immigrants have recently also added to the academic discussion. However, a new field within Finnish migration studies is now emerging, that of the study of the highly-skilled migrant labour force. This is still a very small group within the immigration statistics, but one that differs vastly from the immigration that Finland has previously received. The skilled migrants are generally seen as an economic concern, and much of the research reflects this. Therefore issues related to the social sphere and integration have been to a large extent ignored. This article will look at the initial results of this emerging research field, and offer recommendations for future research while drawing links between relevant research and policy making.