Talent Attraction and Work-related Residence Permit Process Models in Comparison Countries

Abstract

This report seeks to find ways to improve Finland’s potential in attracting highly-skilled workforce by examining talent attraction from two different perspectives. The first part of this report identifies six trends that shape the global context where Finnish actors engage themselves in the intensifying competition for highly skilled workforce. These trends are examined through nine innovative cases of talent attraction around the world. The findings indicate that the following measures could boost talent attraction in Finland: 1) identifying a number of specific niche areas that allow targeting of specific groups; 2) investing in the niche areas where Finland has a competitive advantage; 3) building strong talent hubs that attract more international talent and; 4) building up digital capacity.

The second part of this report consists of a comparison of the Finnish work-related residence permit process models with the Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and Dutch models. The comparison indicates that while Finland has a good basis for attracting highly-skilled workforce, the Finnish efforts to attract international talent could benefit from a smoother and faster permit process. The case studies show that the following measures could improve the Finnish residence permit scheme: 1) lowering barriers to entry and early start of work; 2) redefining the roles of actors involved in the process through increasing the role of the employers; and 3) streamlining the permit process through digitalisation and either abolishing or changing the labour market testing policy.