(In)Equality of Opportunity in the World’s Happiest Country? Investigating Cumulative Discrimination and its Implications on the Labour Market Outcomes of Migrants in Finland

In Finland, due to the aging population, how to attract a foreign workforce is an increasingly important question. However, migrants continuously experience discrimination and racism - 42 percent of migrants reported experiencing discrimination in 2016 as reported by the Finnish Health Institute. Experiences of discrimination may accumulate across domains, within domains, and across generations, and furthermore may hinder the full societal participation. The following research attempts to investigate the extent to which perceived discrimination in different social domains such as in the housing market, when looking for work or at work, in the public realm and the healthcare system, can cumulatively affect the labour market participation of Sub-Saharan African migrants, which is one of the largest migrant groups in Finland. Furthermore, this study attempts to investigate how awareness of rights in terms of antidiscrimination may alter the relationship between perceived discrimination and labour market participation. Employing quantitative methods and using the Second European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey, this study suggests that Sub-Saharan Migrants perceive discrimination especially based on skin colour and ethnic origin, especially in the domains of looking for work and in the public realm such as in public transport and shops. Furthermore, this study suggests that perceived discrimination during the job search process has negative implications for the labour market participation of Sub-Saharan African migrants. Notably, even minor instances of discrimination can hinder the full labour market participation of migrants. Finally drawing on policy recommendations, it is suggested to create more awareness about discrimination and its implications by for example social media campaigns targeted at youth, and to create job-application processes that focus on the skills and experience of migrants rather than on the individual level factors such as the name of the applicant.