By Osita Ifezue
Osita Ifezue is a doctoral researcher at the University of Turku’s INVEST Research Flagship and a visiting researcher at THL (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare). His work focuses on racism, integration, and the sociopolitical structures that shape inclusion and exclusion in Finnish society. He is also the founder of Entegrate Finland, a nonprofit organization focused on grassroots development and community building.
In a 2024 Yle article, Erna Bodström, a researcher from the Migration Institute of Finland, suggested the government should address the reason why immigrants are leaving Finland. The recommendation was in part due to some political parties introducing reform programs that can be considered anti-immigrant programs. Some of these party programs have become the new integration law that came into effect in January 2025. What has followed the law is uncertainty about future outcomes, massive cuts in integration programs, and new wave sentiments from some immigrants about their future in Finland. of emigration from Finland.
Emigration can often be driven by underemployment, failed policies, lack of integration, and the lived experiences of immigrants. I assume that, given the current economic climate, the impact of immigration reforms, changes in geopolitical conditions, and negative political rhetoric about immigration, many more immigrants will leave Finland. This assumption is not based on gut feeling. It follows trends, data, research, and the sentiments expressed by immigrants themselves, which form the basis for the assumption that many more immigrants will leave Finland.
What do we know so far about immigrants leaving Finland?
Finland needs about 40000 immigrants yearly to maintain economic growth because of low birth rates and an ageing population. A report by Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment suggests that about 17% of immigrants left between 2011 and 2021, with a large part of them being students. According to Statistics Finland, 51,121 immigrants moved to Finland in 2025, but 19,888 emigrated from Finland, bringing net migration to Finland to 31,233 in 2025. These numbers show that immigrants are leaving Finland more than in previous years and will continue to do so in increasing numbers. There are many factors that influence these numbers, but I speak to two factors in this article: underemployment and policy failure.
Since the beginning of 2025, I have counted about 10 LinkedIn posts from immigrants saying, “It’s the end of a journey in Finland, and I am moving to …” The reason for the move is usually the expiration of the 3-month rule to find a job or leave Finland, or the inability to advance their careers to the next level.
In the words of an immigrant from sub-Saharan Africa:
“I feel stuck, limited, disillusioned, the continuous feeling of being alienated. For me to integrate, I feel I have to betray myself so I am not fully integrated…”
Such a response is common among many immigrants. Underemployment among immigrants remains high as many find it hard to get work that is commensurate with their qualifications or skills. Some immigrants with higher education qualifications are stuck in gig work, part-time work or unemployment. The mismatch between qualifications and careers is seen in jobs like cleaning, food delivery, and taxi driving, which are synonymous with the immigrants’ jobs.
Immigrant underemployment speaks to the lack of functional capability in Finnish society. An individual who is unable to self-actualize or have a sense of agency will feel powerless and without purpose. I have seen immigrants jump at any opportunity for a better life elsewhere.
Some aspects of the integration law that came into effect in January 2025 aim to cut costs and transfer resources and responsibility to municipalities. The previous integration process, which was a collaborative process between the society and the individual, has transitioned to the immigrant who becomes solely responsible for integrating. This aspect of the law is counterintuitive to the recommendations of researchers like Erna Bodström, that politicians should listen to immigrants inside the Finnish system.
Even before the passing of the law, there were outcries from many immigrants about the negative impact of the law, which is mainly cost-cutting. Hence, the outcome of the law, which will likely further push emigration, will be measured in the coming years. But based on patterns observed now, it is safe to assume that more immigrants who feel socioeconomically excluded would leave Finland.
Integration is like a two-way road. It requires precision, communication, collaboration, and is an ongoing process. Immigrants need to fully integrate into society so as to achieve self-actualization and agency. There needs to be precision in policies, communication, programs, and interventions aimed at addressing challenges in society.
The government’s cut in social programs for immigrants is basically cutting investment in the development of social capital and the capabilities of immigrants. Social capital goes beyond social relationships to build trust in the host country. Trust is essential to the willingness to remain and contribute to Finnish society.
