The conflicting temporalities of immigrant integration in the Nordic welfare state of Finland

Abstract

This article discusses street-level immigrant integration work through the lens of time. Our interest in the temporalities of integration stems from our experiences of researching integration and employment services and measures in Finland. Based on interviews and ethnographic observation, we identify two conflicting temporalities at the institutional timescale of labour market integration. The temporality of acceleration stems from the assumption that Finnish society cannot afford lengthy integration periods for immigrants, which is why integration processes should be fast and efficient. The second temporality represents integration as a linear and future-oriented process, reflecting the idea of Finland as a country of high education, where an individual’s competitiveness in the labour market is based on skills and qualifications. Linear temporality is implied in the planning of immigrants’ integration pathways during service encounters at street level. However, on a biographical timescale, the emphasis on linearity leads to trajectories of integration that contain long waits as well as periods of circularity and stagnation. The integration system is designed to service those who prioritize the slow accumulation of skills and competences, with less support available for those aiming for swift and non-linear transitions.