Data released by Statistics Finland show a worrying trend in Finland: one-third of the over fifteen thousand emigrants from Finland last year were between the ages of 25 and 34.
The numbers of young people exiting Finland permanently or temporarily has risen steadily since 2007. In that year, less than 20 percent of expatriates were between 15 and 24. Jouni Korkiasaari of the Migration Institute’s Information Services says that number has since grown to 23 percent.
Statistics reflect only those citizens of Finland who have moved abroad for more than a year. Shorter trips to live outside the country are not visible.
Older age groups are also more willing to take flight, as the percentage of pensioners leaving the motherland are also up. Over 55s now make up nine percent of all decampers, a number that has been showing moderate growth for many years.
Hard to say why
According to Finnish law, persons emigrating from the country must submit a notice of change of address in the same way as persons who migrate within the country.
Korkiasaari can provide no clear explanation for what is causing the uptick in young people’s exodus, as change of address notices in Finland no longer require movers to list their reasons for leaving the country.
“Education could be one factor, because there are probably a lot more opportunities available now, at least within the EU,” he speculates.
Training abroad and the language skills it provides are also a benefit to those who return to Finland to work, he says.
Korkiasaari says statistics show that more women than men tend to stay abroad permanently.
“If men get married while they are abroad, there is a better chance their wives will come back to Finland with them,” he says.
Work situation not necessarily better
Korkiasaari doesn’t think the employment situation is much better abroad, either.
“It can’t be very good, if you think of Europe. They’ve already got an influx of people from poor countries that are willing to do a lot more work for a smaller salary and under worse conditions than a Finn.”
Talk in Finland about extending working hours and lowering wages certainly doesn’t do much to convince young people who are considering a move to stay home. Others are concerned about the growing prevalence of temporary work contracts and reductions in social security.
As one young Finnish man who recently decided to try his luck abroad is quoted as saying:
“Life here is just getting too difficult.”