The Nordic countries are facing labour shortages across various sectors. Still many refugees and immigrants experience difficulties in establishing themselves on the labour market. Why are we in this paradoxical situation?
At this webinar, the researchers present findings of a new report on Employers’ perspectives and experiences from hiring immigrants across the Nordic countries.
The following questions will be explored:
- What to expect: what are the barriers and benefits of hiring immigrants for employers?
- Are poor language skills always a barrier?
- How important are national wage subsidies and support for employers in the Nordic countries?
- What can we learn from each other in the Nordic countries to achieve better labour market integration of refugees and low-educated immigrants?
During the webinar, the researchers from Nordregio will present the findings from our new Nordic research review and interview study, together with practical examples from employers that have been particularly committed to hiring immigrants across the Nordic countries.
The conclusions will be discussed with experts from different Nordic countries representing public authorities and organizations working with the issue.
This webinar is targeting experts and practitioners in the field and highlights the employers’ perspectives and experiences on hiring refugees and immigrants.
Programme (preliminary):
13:00 Welcoming words
- Kaisa Kepsu, Senior Adviser, Integration Norden, Nordic Welfare Centre
13:10 Presentation of the report
- Rebecca Cavicchia, Senior Research Fellow, Nordregio
- Anna Berlina, Research Consultant, Nordregio
13:30 Employers’ perspectives – Nordic cases
- Ann-Mari Eklund, HR Director, Snellman Meat Processing, Jakobstad, Finland
- Mark Ahlenius, Founder and Deputy Director, Jobbentrén (diversity recruitment), Stockholm, Sweden
- Magnus Larsson, CEO, McDonald’s Visby, Sweden
14:00 Overcoming the barriers: short comments and panel discussion
- Karin Heri, Country Director, Tent Partnership for Refugees, Sweden
- Ahmed Abdirahman, founder of the Global Village and member of the Nordic Migrant Expert Forum, Sweden
- Anna Engedal Jacobsen, Specialkonsulent, Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration (SIRI), Denmark