A1 Journal article (refereed)
Minding the Gaps : The Role of Finnish Civil Society Organizations in the Labour Market Integration of Migrants (2021)
Bontenbal, I., & Lillie, N. (2021). Minding the Gaps : The Role of Finnish Civil Society Organizations in the Labour Market Integration of Migrants. Voluntas, 33(5), 862-871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-021-00334-w
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Bontenbal, Ilona; Lillie, Nathan
Journal or series: Voluntas
ISSN: 0957-8765
eISSN: 1573-7888
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 17/03/2021
Volume: 33
Issue number: 5
Pages range: 862-871
Publisher: Springer
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-021-00334-w
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74682
Abstract
The growing role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in welfare service provision is sometimes portrayed as a threat to welfare state universalism in Nordic societies. In Finland, CSOs co-produce integration services alongside comprehensive official integration programmes, compensating for gaps and shortcomings in those services. We identify three “gaps”, which are (1) limited availability of services in terms of time and target group, (2) lack of direct labour market contacts and (3) limited flexibility to serve individual needs. We assess how CSOs target these gaps with their service offerings through qualitative interviews with policy implementers, CSO workers and migrants. However, CSOs’ role in labour market integration is inherently limited by their services being small scale, short term and project based. We find that due to their independence and limited role, CSOs operate synergistically with official services, extending rather than undermining universalism.
Keywords: non-governmental organisations; third sector; civil society; immigrants; migrant integration; labour market; welfare services; welfare state; public services; role
Free keywords: migrant labour market integration; active labour market services for migrants; co-production; role of CSOs; welfare state universalism
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- From Strangers to Workers: Skills and EU Labour Market Integration of Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Applicants
- Lillie, Nathan
- European Commission
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
Preliminary JUFO rating: 1