Employers’ perspectives on hiring immigrants

Book excerpt: Available online: https://pub.norden.org/nord2023-043/ The Nordic countries are facing labour shortages. Yet, integrating migrants into the labour market remains a challenge, especially for non-EU-born citizens and refugee women. Employers play a central role in supporting integration. This report explores Nordic employers' perceptions of hiring low-skilled migrants. It highlights motivations, benefits, and challenges based on literature and interviews.The employers in this study believe long-term advantages outweigh initial challenges. Benefits include access to a larger labour pool, and improved public image. Common challenges are legal hurdles, communication challenges and limited language skills.The study finds that reducing language requirements and collaborating with the public sector, NGOs and staffing agencies are effective strategies. And while wage subsidies positively impact employment, the awareness among employers is limited.