Take part in an online discussion on work-based immigration
How does work-based immigration affect Finland’s future? What opportunities, concerns or solutions are associated with it?
Join the discussion here (opens on 24 August 2026)Labour migration is linked to issues that are important for Finland’s future, such as the availability of labour, the economy and the sustainability of the welfare state. At the same time, it raises questions about fairness, belonging to society and what sort of country Finland will become in the future.
The public debate ‘What do you think about labour migration, Finland?’ is gathering views from people across Finland. The aim is not to find a single correct answer, but to gain a better understanding of how people view labour migration and what kinds of solutions they consider effective.
Everyone is welcome to join the discussion: members of the public, employers, employees, immigrants, entrepreneurs, organisations, students and anyone else with an interest in the subject. It is important that as wide a range of experiences and perspectives as possible are heard.
You can spend as much or as little time on the discussion as you like and return later to continue where you left off.
The discussion is open from 24 August to 20 September 2026. New statements can be added during the first two weeks or until the maximum number of statements has been reached. After that, you can still vote on the statements until the discussion closes.
Why is labour migration being discussed?
Work-related immigration has an impact on many aspects of Finnish society. Among other things, it is linked to the availability of labour, economic growth, the provision of services and how Finland’s future is envisaged.
This topic gives rise to a variety of views. That is why it is important to include as many voices as possible in the discussion. Everyone is welcome to take part in the discussion, regardless of their perspective.
How does the discussion work?
The discussion takes place anonymously on the digital Voxit platform. On the platform, you can view claims relating to labour migration. You can:
- to agree with the statement
- to disagree with a claim
- dismiss the claim
- put forward new arguments in the discussion
You can take part using your own mobile phone, tablet or computer at a time that suits you.
Please note! The discussion organisers have added around 20 statements to the discussion, with the aim of exploring the topic from different perspectives. Participants can then suggest new statements to shape the content of the discussion.
The views expressed in the discussion do not represent the official positions of the administration or the organisers; rather, their purpose is to facilitate as wide-ranging a discussion as possible on the subject.
What are the answers used for?
The findings of the discussion will provide an overall picture of the issues relating to labour migration on which there is broad consensus in Finland, and those on which views differ.
The views of the public will be collated and made available to decision-makers and the public administration in spring 2027.
The findings will also be used in a citizens’ assembly on labour migration, which is due to convene in late 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is organising the discussion?
The discussion is being organised by Sitra and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in collaboration with a number of research and expert organisations. The state-owned company Motiva is responsible for the technical arrangements and moderation of the discussion.
Can I take part in the discussion from outside Finland?
You cannot take part. The discussion is open only to those in Finland.
May I share information about the discussion, for example, at my workplace?
Yes, in fact, it is even recommended. If your organisation would like to publicise the discussion, please contact Motiva.
Do I need to register?
There’s no need. The Voxit discussion forum is completely anonymous and does not require you to register or log in.
Can I take part even if I don’t know much about the subject?
Yes. We’d like to see a variety of people and different perspectives take part in the discussion. No specialist knowledge is required.
Can I take part even if I’m critical of work-related immigration?
Yes. All viewpoints are welcome in the discussion, provided they are presented in a respectful manner and in accordance with the rules of the discussion.
I added a new point to the discussion, but it hasn’t been published. Why?
All claims submitted by participants are checked before they are published.
The most common reason for a claim not being published is that the same or a very similar claim is already part of the discussion. In such cases, the new claim would not bring any substantially new perspective to the discussion.
A comment may also be withheld from publication if it breaches the discussion rules. Examples include comments that are offensive, defamatory, contain hate speech or are discriminatory.
The aim is to ensure that the discussion remains objective and that the arguments put forward bring new perspectives to the discussion.
How long does participation last?
You can spend as much time as you like on the discussion. At the start of the discussion, there are only a handful of claims, but by the end there may be as many as a couple of hundred. You can take part whenever it suits you and come back to reply later. If you return to the discussion using the same device you used previously, Voxit will remember the claims you’ve already responded to. You can then pick up where you left off.
Rules of discussion
How to take part
- Read the statement.
- Cast your vote to let us know whether you agree or disagree.
- Skip this statement if you do not wish to reply.
- Put forward your own argument in the discussion if you have a new perspective.
- Return to the discussion and see what new arguments have been put forward and what people think of your own argument.
It’s quick to take part, and you can respond to as many statements as you like.
What makes a good argument?
A good argument:
- relates to the topic under discussion
- is clear and easy to understand
- is not in the form of a question
- deals with only one matter at a time
- does not target any individual
- does not contain any personal data (names, addresses, contact details, etc.)
Please remember to write in a respectful manner. Discussions work best when everyone feels safe to take part.
For example:
Not like this: “Finland should increase labour migration because it strengthens the economy, helps businesses find workers and offsets the ageing population.”
The statement contains several different claims, with which a participant may partly agree and partly disagree.
But rather: “Finland should increase labour migration to alleviate labour shortages.” OR “Labour migration helps Finland adapt to an ageing population.” OR “The growth of Finnish companies is hampered by a shortage of skilled labour.”
Moderation – how are comments published?
All new claims are checked before publication. The discussion is moderated to ensure it remains civil, constructive and fair for all participants.
We publish claims that:
- stay on topic and move the discussion forward
- is written in a respectful and objective manner
- are clear and easy to understand
- offer a fresh perspective rather than repeating arguments that have already been put forward
- deal with issues and phenomena, not individual people
- do not contain personal data or any identifiable information
- do not contain clearly incorrect information
Where necessary, we will rephrase the text to make it clearer, so that the statement is understandable and automatic translations work properly.
Part of a broader public dialogue
The current Voxit discussion is part of a broader citizen participation initiative exploring the future of work-based immigration.
The aim is to strengthen the knowledge base for decision-making and give people an opportunity to participate in the discussion of a socially significant issue.
The initiative is being carried out by Sitra and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in cooperation with several research and expert organisations. The state-owned company Motiva is responsible for the technical implementation and moderation of the Voxit discussion.
Feedback or questions?
Do you have any questions or would you like to provide feedback on the Voxit platform or the ongoing discussion? Send us a message at motiva@motiva.fi.
This page has been produced using machine translation. Motiva is not responsible for any errors or omissions on this page.
