Over one-fifth of Espoo’s population has a foreign background, and this share grows by about one percentage point annually.
Recently, many people have moved to Espoo to work in high-skilled positions, particularly in the Otaniemi area, which offers such opportunities. Finnish entrepreneurs strive to have the world’s best employees, who often come from countries like India, Pakistan, or China.
The government has introduced better opportunities for work-based immigration. However, there is still work to be done, especially in retaining those who study at universities in Finland to remain in the country.
Another major stream of work-based immigration involves individuals trained abroad who work in care and maintenance roles. The looming labor shortage can only be addressed by welcoming additional helping hands from abroad.
Our city is gradually becoming more multicultural. Over one-third of children are born to parents who speak languages other than Finnish or Swedish. Early childhood education and schools must adapt to operate effectively in such an environment. Schools play a key role, as parents seek quality education for their children and are even willing to relocate for it.
Jouni J Särkijärvi 