Posted on 06/10/2008 4:06:23 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick
HELSINKI: If you can bear dark snowy winters lasting anywhere between three and seven months and are prepared to stand out in a crowd of Finns – tall, blonde and speaking Suomi or Swedish – there is a chance Finland's 'silver economy' needs you.
In an extraordinary attempt to lure immigrants to their rapidly-ageing country, Finnish universities have government approval to hawk their wares to Indian and Chinese students. On offer is a world-class education in one of Europe's most wired and well-developed economies and the chance of a good job afterwards.
Finland's 'look east' policy is born out of demographic desperation. It is ageing faster than any country in Europe, other than Italy. Worldwide, only Japan is ageing faster. The Finnish labor force is expected to begin declining by 2010. In 2015, about 20 per cent of Finns will be aged 65 or older.
"By 2025, we would need 1.8 million immigrants if we want to solve the labour market problem", Finland's finance minister Jyrki Katainen told TOI. "But everyone knows that's not going to happen. There are language and geographic issues. It is hard for us to attract immigrants".
This is why the Finnish government changed the law a couple of years ago, making it possible for immigrant students to move straight from university into jobs without needing to return to their home countries to apply for work permits. "Now it's very easy to stay on," said Katainen, "and that is why Finnish universities are trying to market themselves in India, to encourage students to come".
Finland's thirst for immigrants is increasingly urgent. Just days ago, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warned that its greying population and relatively rigid labour market could pose a threat to Finland's competitiveness and economic development. The OECD said part of the solution could be newly-targeted government resources for educating and training migrant workers in order to make it easier for them to settle in the world's northernmost permanently-populated country.
The government hasn't got quite as far as that yet. Katainen admitted Finland is still not thinking along the lines of the Canadians and Australians with their regulated and carefully-monitored points-based immigration systems, which allow only the workers one needs into the country. "We haven't done that yet. But basically, we need immigrants in every sector of the economy".
Unusually – and this may be the truest measure of Finland's demographic desperation – the labour shortage extends to agriculture, which the Finance Minister admits is "a new sector that needs workers".
There are signs that Finland is trying to turn its northern latitude and geographical "issues" into an advantage. The government says it hopes the world will see it "as the gateway to Russia", with all the economic possibilities therein.
But however welcoming that sounds, there is an unacknowledged sense here that droves of badly-needed foreign workers may change Finland too fast and in ways it may not like. Were Finland to let in 1.8 million immigrant workers by 2025, it would have added nearly half its current population of 5.2 million. So far, it has been attracting just about 12,000 mainly Russian, Baltic and African immigrants a year. Katainen says that number would have to jump at least tenfold if Finland is to replace its dying population.
Even so, analysts admit the social consequences of uncontrolled immigration might be too terrible to contemplate.
But, in a remarkable reversal of the well-rehearsed European dirge about unwanted immigration, Katainen is clear that Finland needs to let in the world if it is to continue to live in the style to which it is accustomed. "We are a welcoming country and we would want to look after immigrants just as we would our own citizens".
The jury is out on who and from where will answer the call.
“History repeats itself: first as tragedy, second as farce.” (Karl Marx).
This policy of inviting large numbers of foreigners in to run your country does not work well over the long term if the numbers are large. Once you exceed the rate at which immigrants can be assimilated and acculturated, you balkanize the country. With some cultures that mix poorly, the rate is lower than with others.
We’ve seen plenty of examples of this. I guess the Finns responsible for this policy initiative aren’t paying attention.
Behold, the fruits of abortion.
They need to advertize in Arabic language newspapers.
Build some big Mosques as an incentive to move there.
Sounds like northern Wisconsin
Unusually – and this may be the truest measure of Finland's demographic desperation – the labour shortage extends to agriculture, which the Finance Minister admits is "a new sector that needs workers".
There, ladies and gentlemen is the answer to our illegal imm... I mean, 'undocumented worker' problem. Ship 'em to Helsinki! They'll be welcomed with open arms!
In twenty years or so we can all read about those Swedes named "Ernesto Jorgensen" or "Nils Lopez".
As an American of Finnish extraction, this is deeply depressing. However, a Post-Christian Europe is just making the logical conclusion that a meaningless existence simply isn’t worth perpetuating.
It’s a sad commentary on western civilization when we cannot even reproduce ourselves.
Maybe if we don’t run around hating hot women, job would become easier.
Actually, the love of hot women has nothing to do with it. No doubt the Finns have plenty of sex and hot women. Could it be there’s more to a healthy society than promiscuous sex?
I’d go, but Finland has even more free speech restrictions then Canada does now.
It seems to be human nature that once civilizations reach a certain level of success they almost literally kill themselves. Its disturbing.
I guess this article doesn’t mention that if you emigrate to Finland, you’ll get to pay Finnish taxes. And it also doesn’t mention that the average house size in Finland is significantly smaller than in the United States. If you compare the Finnish standard of living with the US’s, we are way ahead.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.