Internal migration and specialising labour markets in Finland

Authors

• Kultalahti Olli

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23979/fypr.44961

Keywords:

internal migration, urban high-tech centre, unemployment, specialising labour markets, selective migration

Abstract

A short description on phases of intemal migration and industrial changes in Finland is
given from a historical perspective. The main part of the article concentrates on special
features of intemal migration that are related to the specialisation of the labour markets
in the l 990s. Three interconnected developments are anal ysed - intemal migration and
growth of urban centres with well-developed high-tech industries, unemployment, and
the relationship of intemal and intemational migration. Urban centres with developed
high-tech industries have strengthened their edge over others in developing a new
economy of network societies. The l 990s are also characterised by increased migration
of the unemployed. The trend started during the depression in the l 990s, and seems to
have continued ever since. Intemal and intemational migration are related to each other.
The largest urban centres play an important role as linking points of these two forms of
migration. Intemal migration can be seen as a step-wise approach to unfamiliar conditions.
Almost three out of ten emigrants made intemal moves before emigrating in the
1990s.