Obstacles to Job Market Integration for International Students in Finland

Abstract

The inclusion of international students in Finland labour market is a challenge, which is not going away even after the national campaign of attracting international talents to the country by offering English-based higher education programs. This study discusses the issue of international students and new graduates searching a job in the Finish labour market, which is considered to be an energy technology and innovation-oriented area. In spite of the fact that national strategies of Finland focus on internationalization and retention of talents, there is a gap between the desires of Finland and the fulfilment of international degree graduates in the sphere of employment. The data collected in this qualitative research paper is obtained via the use of semi-structured questionnaire with ten international students and graduates at the University of Finnish labour market and other institutions located in the area. The three theories interrelate in that the study is influenced by the following theoretical frameworks to develop: Human Capital Theory, Social Capital Theory, and Psychological Contract Theory. These models are used to an alyse the way skills, networks, expectations and perceived obligations affect the Finnish labour market employability of international students. Results indicate that the barriers to labour market integration are numerous with the Finnish language skills, a shortage of professional contacts, and the absence of local working experience. Cultural adjustment problems and implicit biases of the recruitment practices create particularly problems as well. Although the participants are well educated and exposed to the global world views, such advantages are usually neglected when local and cultural barriers come into play, which narrow their opportunities to get employment. This paradox explains why high levels of investments of education and skills do not yield in finding employment in the Finnish labour market. The paper is on the fact that the process of integration needs to be coordinated at various levels, which includes universities, employers, and policymakers. Among the recommen dations are the improvements of language training, betterment of the career placement services, better networking opportunities in the universities, as well as encouraging the employers to employ more inclusive methods of recruitment. The regional stakeholders are also encouraged to intensify retention programs to empower the international gradu ates. The paper can be applied in the discussion about employability, migration, and higher education in that it provides information on what international graduates are facing in the Finnish labour market.