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Labour market training can be vocational or integration training Provisions on labour market training are laid down in the Act on the Organisation of Employment services. Labour market training can be vocational labour market training. The objecti...

Immigrants in the labour market Employers may arrange services to help their employees settle in and integrate in Finland. Employers offer different kinds of services that support settlement and such services can also be purchased. Settling-in and...

Reaching immigrants outside the labour force with municipal integration services Why should immigrants outside the labour force be targeted for services? This online resource offers a collection of operating methods for reaching those outside the ...

In activities promoting integration, the desired objectives can be best achieved when the authorities and organisations regard the promotion of integration as a joint task. Cooperation is based on equal partnership, investment in development work, shared planning forums and resources for operations.

Promotion of integration in figures Immigration of foreign citizens in 2022 • A total of 42,470 foreign citizens moved to Finland (Statistics Finland). • Work was the most common reason for the first residence permit (Finnish Immigration Service)....

The conditions and practices for moving to Finland vary depending on whether a person moves to Finland from an EU country or outside the EU and whether they move here to study or short-term seasonal work, for example. This page includes examples of the most typical situations.

Contact information Kotoutuminen.fi online service is intended for persons who work on promoting integration and refugee reception and encounter immigrants in their work. The service is maintained by the KEHA Centre. The KEHA Centre supports perso...

Talent Boost is a cross-administrative programme in which the aim is to attract specialists, employees, students and researchers to Finland and to make our country more attractive to these groups and their families.

ELY Centres develop and support regional integration and settling-in efforts Under the Integration Act, the centres for economic development, transport and the environment (ELY Centres) are responsible for the following with regard to the promotio...

Information for you who are an employer Employers face the occupational diversification of Finland, they can promote the receptiveness of society and influence what employment is like in the future. Employment and work-related immigration This sec...

Current information on residence, temporary protection, work and services for people arriving in Finland from Ukraine This page contains information for those involved in integration regarding different grounds for residence permits for people arr...

Information for those who work in customer service People working in customer service meet immigrants in person, online or by phone. The time they can spend with a customer is often short. They can use interpretation services, plain language and v...

Funding for development projects to promote integration and reception of refugees Find out more about the funding opportunities for your projects on promoting integration and the reception of refugees. Please check the application periods on the w...

About the integration.fi service The new version of the kotoutuminen.fi/integration.fi online service was deployed in September 2021. Service content The website’s address is integration.fi (kotoutuminen.fi in Finnish). The web editorial staff of ...

Questions and answers about the integration services reform project On this page, you will find frequently asked questions and answers about the integration services reform project. The questions are divided into topics: Reform of training that pr...

Planning and developing the promotion of integration is part of municipal strategy.

According to the Constitution of Finland, people are equal before the law. No one can be placed in a different position without an acceptable reason on the basis of their gender, age, origin, language, religion, conviction, opinion, health, disability or other personal reason.

The Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration has compiled information on the situation in Ukraine and those fleeing from Ukraine on this website. The materials have been produced by the Government and other authorities, and in part by municipalities and organisations.

Once the refugees have received a residence permit and moved to the municipality, they are local residents and entitled to the same services as other residents. The municipality must ensure that the services it provides are also suitable for refugees.

Integration 2026 is an event-based project focusing on integration themes. The project will organise a national Integration 2026 event between 28 and 29 October 2026, in Vantaa, Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport Congress Centre.

Identifying and preventing harmful practices Victims of human trafficking Human trafficking is a serious crime against an individual’s freedom that violates human dignity and integrity. The offender subjugates the victim in order to gain financial...

The initial assessment referred to in the Integration Act means a package of measures enabling the authority to conduct a preliminary assessment of the immigrant’s preparedness concerning employment, study and other aspects of integration and the need for language training and other measures and services promoting integration.

Frequently asked questions and answers about the comprehensive reform of the Integration Act.

Checklist for drawing up the municipal integration programme The checklist below supports municipalities in the planning and implementation of the integration programme. The list has been prepared at a general level. The integration programme and ...

The Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (hereinafter, the Integration Act) aims to strengthen immigrants’ employment, capacity to work and language skills, and to increase their participation in society. Another objective of the Act is to promote equality, non-discrimination and positive interaction between different population groups.

Integration training Integration training is a key service that promotes the integration and employment of immigrants who have completed compulsory education and improves their social, cultural and everyday skills. Integration training also serves...

Employment and Economic Development Offices (TE Offices) are responsible for the employment of immigrant jobseekers and for employment and business services supporting immigrant integration. TE Offices are also responsible for ensuring that the services are suitable for immigrants.

The Act on the Promotion of Immigrant Integration (hereinafter, the Integration Act) aims to strengthen immigrants’ employment, capacity to work and language skills, and to increase their participation in society. Another objective of the Act is to promote equality, non-discrimination and positive interaction between different population groups.

Employment authorities are responsible for the employment services in support of the employment and integration of immigrants who are jobseekers.

Planning and implementation of training The Act on the promotion of immigrant integration was amended on 1.1.2025. Unfortunately, this website has not yet been updated to comply with the new integration Act (681/2023). We apologise for the inconve...

Unemployment benefit or social assistance may be paid to the immigrant for the duration of the integration plan. The right to unemployment benefit is determined as provided in the Unemployment Security Act and the right to social assistance as provided in the Social Assistance Act. The immigrant applies to Kela for both the labour market subsidy and social assistance.

Key concepts related to integration, the Integration Act and the reception of refugees are collected on this page. The concepts are partly based on the Integration Glossary published in 2021.

The employment and economic development authority offers public employment and business services. The main purpose of employment and business services is to promote the functionality of the labour market.

The Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has published an instruction card to help those involved in integration and others to recognise labour exploitation and human trafficking.

Diversity and non-discrimination in working life and society in general have a positive effect on employment of immigrants and a country’s ability to attract skilled labour, international students and investments.

Information for those who are a decision-maker or manager in a municipality or the government Municipal decision-makers and people working in the management of municipalities or the government issue decisions and solutions that may concern immigra...

The employment authority initiates the assessment for immigrants who are unemployed jobseekers under the Act on the Organisation of Employment Services. The municipality initiates the assessment for immigrants who are not unemployed jobseekers or imminently entering the labour market.

Literacy instruction for immigrants whose compulsory education has ended The instruction of literacy for adult immigrants is organised as part of adult basic education and carried out by liberal adult education. Studies that strengthen the immigra...

The goal of the Integration SIB project was to find employment for 2,500 immigrants over a period of three years. At the same time, new training and employment models were tested to accelerate the employment of immigrants and to enable flexible combinations of education and work.

Information on integration services for operators Immigrant integration can be supported by providing necessary services for the immigrant. These services are organised as part of municipalities’, employment authorities' and wellbeing services cou...

The municipality or TE Office carries out an initial assessment in cooperation with the immigrant and, if necessary, with the wellbeing services county. An initial assessment will be carried out for unemployed jobseekers, recipients of social assistance and those who request an initial assessment, if they are deemed to need it.

The municipality (municipal employment services in municipalities participating in local government pilots) and the TE Office prepare an integration plan together with the client.

Referral to education The Act on the promotion of immigrant integration was amended on 1.1.2025. Unfortunately, this website has not yet been updated to comply with the new integration Act (681/2023). We apologise for the inconvenience. The updati...

Discretionary government grants are used to support organisations, competence centres and guidance and counselling services The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has allocated discretionary government grants to organisations, municipal c...

Individual study paths The Act on the promotion of immigrant integration was amended on 1.1.2025. Unfortunately, this website has not yet been updated to comply with the new integration Act (681/2023). We apologise for the inconvenience. The updat...

Under the Integration Act, an unemployed immigrant or an immigrant receiving social assistance on a non-temporary basis always has the right to an integration plan. An integration plan may also be drawn up for other immigrants if they are deemed to be in need of a plan promoting integration on the basis of the initial assessment.

24.3.2026 | The number of men among the foreign unemployed decreased by 1.9% compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the share of women increased by 3.0%. The number of unemployed jobseekers increased in February 2026 compared to the previous year. The increase was significantly more moderate among foreign unemployed jobseekers (0.5%) than among Finnish unemployed jobseekers (7.7%).

An integration programme is a service package for the early stages of integration organised by municipalities. The objective of the services included in an integration programme is to promote the immigrant’s integration, employment or entrepreneurship, skills and working life competencies.

Integration programme – service package for the early stages of integration An integration programme is a service package for the early stages of integration organised by municipalities. The objective of the services included in an integration pro...

Description of the processing of personal data when contact details are submitted to for guidance and counselling services.

News RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Government proposes reforms to integration services and funding for integration 23.4.2026 | News item The Government has submitted a proposal on the reform of integration services to Parliament. The a...

3.3.2026 | The number of foreign unemployed jobseekers decreased for the first time since 2022. According to the Employment Bulletin based on the data from January, 14.3% of all unemployed jobseekers were foreign unemployed jobseekers.

28.3.2025 | According to the Labour Force Survey, the employment rate of foreigners was 59.6 per cent in the last quarter of 2024. The economic downturn is still reflected in the employment rate of foreign citizens, which fell slightly from the previous quarter.

28.1.2025 | During 2024, a total of 19,770 first integration plans were drawn up for clients of TE services. This is roughly the same as in 2023.

12.10.2022 | Human trafficking is a serious offence directed against a person where the offender takes advantage of the vulnerability, trust or dependency of the victim and subjects him or her to labour exploitation or sexual abuse, for example. The Centre of Expertise in Immigrant Integration of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has published an instruction card to help those involved in integration and others to recognise labour exploitation and human trafficking.

15.8.2024 | In June, there were 46,709 unemployed foreign jobseekers, which accounts for 16 per cent of all unemployed jobseekers. The number of first integration plans fell from the first quarter of 2024. This drop may be due to seasonal variation as, of all quarters, the least number of first integration plans are usually drawn up in the second quarter of the year.

8.3.2024 | INSTRUCTION CARD How to recognise labour exploitation and human trafficking? Labour exploitation refers to, in its least serious form, violating the terms and conditions of em- ployment and, in its most serious form, misleading or threatening empl...

1.11.2023 | According to a recent report, Ukrainians receiving temporary protection have been well received in Finland. Language skills play a key role in employment.

20.8.2024 | There were 49,543 unemployed foreign jobseekers in Finland at the end of July. This is the highest number of unemployed foreign jobseekers ever recorded. In addition to the lacklustre economy, the increase in foreign labour explains this growth.

2.12.2021 | The Partnership platform is an interactive, digital and communal platform for operators, experts, stakeholders and networks involved in integration, immigration and reception of refugees. The platform will open as a beta version to users on Thursday 2 December 2021. Register for the platform and join the Partnership platform community!