Recruiting International Talent: The C6 Alliance in Vantaa
More than 120 languages are spoken in Vantaa, and almost one-third of its residents speak a foreign language. At the same time, declining birth rates and an aging population in Finland make immigration an increasingly essential part of securing the workforce: many sectors face shortages of skilled employees, which slows business growth. The diversification of the labour force brings employers many opportunities but also requires new kinds of competencies.
The project strengthens employers’ skills in international and responsible recruitment and helps them find skilled workers from abroad. It provides services that complement the international job-matching activities of employment regions. With these services, employers can improve their ability to attract, recruit, and retain international talent. At the same time, new operating models and partnerships are being developed to support employers in international and diverse recruitment.
Employers receive support in areas such as:
• developing workplace language practices
• diverse recruitment and smooth onboarding
• leadership in increasingly diverse work communities
• attracting researchers and highly skilled experts from abroad.
The project aims to engage 1,000 employers in services that support international and responsible recruitment. It is part of a national partnership between the government, the Helsinki Chamber of Commerce, and Finland’s six largest cities (the C6 cities).
The project promotes the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the implementation of Vantaa’s city strategy. Services that enhance employers’ competence in diversity management and responsible recruitment support both decent work and economic growth (Goal 8) and the reduction of inequalities (Goal 10).
At the same time, the project supports socially, culturally, and economically sustainable growth in line with Vantaa’s city strategy by improving the matching of employers and jobseekers and by making it easier for all Vantaa residents to enter working life, regardless of their background or characteristics.