Authors

• Jaakkola, Magdalena (Rehabilitation Foundation. Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Development)

Keywords

attitudes, ethnic groups, foreign workers, immigrants, immigration policy, refugees

Abstract

The interviews charted attitudes of the Finns towards foreign job seekers, refugees, and welcoming immigrants from five different nationalities. The same set of questions was used in broader interview surveys charting attitudes towards immigrants conducted in 1987, 1993, 1998, and 2003.

First question explored the respondents' opinions on whether Finland should accept more, fewer or the same number of refugees and foreign job seekers. Their views were also probed on Estonians, Russians, Poles, Chinese and Somalians moving to Finland. Finally, the respondents were asked how many foreigners living in Finland they knew personally.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, education, household composition, household size, economic activity, political party preference, whether R is the household head, occupational status of R and the household head, household gross income, and municipality of residence classified into various categories.