Integration programmes and language training increase employment of immigrants

Integration programmes and language training increase employment of immigrants, are the findings of a study by Labore, the Labour Institute for Economic Research. An active labour market policy is most effective for people who have the greatest difficulty in securing employment. Financial sanctions, on the other hand, are likely to work best for the highly educated. 

The Labore report Systematic Review of Active Labor Market Policies' Effects on Immigrants' Employment is a systematic review of literature on the effectiveness of immigrant integration measures and active labour market policies. The review identifies four ways of promoting the employment of immigrants: integration programmes, language training, active labour market policies and financial sanctions.

While all of these policy measures may be significant for improving employment rates, the strongest credible research evidence favours integration programmes and language training. Among active labour market policies, wage subsidies in particular have been found to boost employment.

Previous studies of the effectiveness of financial sanctions give a partly inconsistent impression. Sanctions have been found to have both positive and negative employment impacts. They can also exacerbate poverty and departures from the labour force.

Read more about the study in the press release from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

The study was carried out by Labore for the Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The publication is in English and contains a summary in Finnish.

More information:
Systematic Review of Active Labor Market Policies' Effects on Immigrants' Employment

Antti Kaihovaara, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7125