FSD2541 Immigrants in Southeast Finland 2003
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Rouhiainen, Vesa (University of Helsinki. Ruralia Institute, Mikkeli)
Abstract
The survey studied integration, education, employment, and language skills of immigrants living in less densely populated areas in Finland. The survey was part of the project 'Kaakkois-Suomen Majakka' funded by the European Social Fund and carried out by the University of Helsinki, Kotka Employment Office and Workers' Educational Association WEA. The project aimed to develop integration and training models suitable for small, dispersed immigrant populations.
The respondents were asked about the permanence of their stay in Finland, intention to apply for Finnish citizenship, and reasons for moving to Finland. Education/training and work experience before and after immigration to Finland were charted. Foreign language skills were studied with questions relating to the ability to speak Finnish or Swedish and other languages. Further questions investigated economic activity and occupational status of the respondents, factors making it difficult or easier for them to find a job, use of language skills in their work, and whether their work was commensurate with their qualifications. The respondents also evaluated the usefulness of employment office services and whether they liked their current working environment.
Integration into Finnish society was studied next. Questions covered the most important actors helping the respondents to integrate, experiences of racism or discrimination, and whether the respondents had reported the racism to authorities. Opinions on whether their municipality of residence offered enough free-time opportunities were charted. The respondents were also asked whether they participated in any voluntary/civic organisations.
Background variables included the respondent's gender, year of birth, country of origin, nationality, degree of urbanity of the municipality of residence, year of immigration to Finland, marital status, number of children aged under 18, and native language.
Keywords
employment; employment history; immigrants; language skills; social integration
Topic Classification
regional studies; social welfare policy; sociology of work (FSD Topics Classification)
employment; equality and inequality (CESSDA Topics Classification)
Restrictions
The questions 6, 13, 23, 25, 31, 35, 36, 39, 40 and 41 are not included in the archived data.
Access to the data granted for scientific and teaching purposes. FSD's access application procedure.
Data Collector
Rouhiainen, Vesa (University of Helsinki. Ruralia Institute, Mikkeli)
Data Producer
Rouhiainen, Vesa (University of Helsinki. Ruralia Institute, Mikkeli)
University of Helsinki. Palmenia Centre for Continuing Education
Kotka Employment Office
Workers' Educational Association WEA
Collection Date
June 2003 - August 2003
Nation
Finland
Geographical Coverage
Finland, Southeast Finland, Southern Savonia, Kymenlaakso
Analysis Unit
Individual
Universe
People aged 15-65 living in the Southern Savonia or Kymenlaakso regions in Finland and whose mother tongue was other than Finnish or Swedish
Sampling Procedure
Simple random sampling. The sample of 1500 immigrants (i.e. persons whose mother tongue was not Finnish or Swedish) living in Southern Savonia or Kymenlaakso was randomly drawn from the population register of Finland. The questionnaire was available in three languages: Finnish, English and Russian. 364 adequately filled in questionnaires were returned.
Collection Mode
Postal survey
Research Instrument
Structured questionnaire
Response Rate
24%
Time Method
Cross-sectional study
Collection Size
Data: SPSS portable file. Data available also in other file formats.
Data version
2.0 (17.4.2013)
Other Material
See downloadable files at the top of the page
Questionnaires: pdf file in Finnish and English
Data Appraisal and Notes
Information on the respondents' municipality of residence has been aggregated into a statistical grouping of municipalities. The grouping is based on the degree of urbanisation.
Citation Requirement
The source must be acknowledged in any publication based wholly or in part on the data. The bibliographic citation may be in the form required by the publication, or in the form suggested by the archive.
Bibliographical Citation
Rouhiainen, Vesa: Immigrants in Southeast Finland 2003 [computer file]. FSD2541, version 2.0 (2013-04-17). Tampere: Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor], 2013.
Depositing Requirements
The archive must be informed of all publications where the data have been used.
Disclaimer
The depositor and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the secondary use of the data.
