Participant selection completed for the Citizens’ Assembly on work-based immigration
Researchers at the University of Turku have completed the participant selection for the citizens’ assembly on work-based immigration. A total of 106 participants from diverse backgrounds and from across Finland were selected from among the 1,601 people who registered to take part. The citizens’ assembly will work from November to February.
This coming winter, a large citizens’ assembly will discuss what Finland should do regarding work-based immigration in the coming years.
The assembly is part of an initiative launched by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, which gathers the views of people living in Finland on work-based immigration on an exceptionally broad scale for the use of decision-makers. Implementation of the citizens’ assembly is led by the Research Group for Innovating Democracy at the University of Turku.
The organisers invited 20,000 adults living in Finland to take part in the citizens’ assembly through a random sample carried out by the Finnish Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The random sampling meant that every adult living in Finland had an equal chance of receiving an invitation to the citizens’ assembly.
Altogether 1,601 people registered to take part, i.e. 8% of those invited.
“The registration rate was higher than is typically the case in comparable citizen dialogues, which indicates that many people consider the topic of the citizens’ assembly important,” says Project Researcher Katariina Kulha of the University of Turku, who was responsible for implementing the participant selection.
From among those who registered, the research team selected just over one hundred participants for the citizens’ assembly, as well as reserve participants. Of those invited, 106 confirmed their participation. Slightly more than one hundred participants were admitted in order to ensure that the target size of one hundred participants will be reached even if there are last-minute cancellations.
The participant group reflects a broad range of population groups
The researchers used quota-based random sampling in the selection. In other words, participants were drawn at random from among the volunteers so that the final group meets pre-defined quotas. Quota allocation was carried out anonymously, meaning that the researchers did not process volunteers’ names, but only background variables.
The quota criteria were age, gender, region of residence, level of education, place of birth (Finland/elsewhere) and party preference. Quotas were used to ensure that the composition of the citizens’ assembly includes a broad range of population groups and perspectives.
The size of each quota was based on that group’s share of the population in Finland. For example, women make up slightly over 50% of Finland’s population, so a quota of 47–53% was set for women among participants. Quotas for party preference were based on the results of the previous parliamentary election, and a separate quota was set for those who did not report a party preference.
“The participant group matches our target quotas very well. I am truly pleased that we will have such a diverse group of people from around Finland taking part in the citizens’ assembly,” Kulha says.
Work begins in November
The citizens’ assembly will work from November to February in a total of eight meetings held online and in Helsinki.
During the meetings, participants will familiarise themselves with work-based immigration, discuss it constructively and prepare a statement containing recommendations. To support their deliberation, they will receive background materials and will also consult experts and representatives of different viewpoints.
The policy recommendations produced by the citizens’ assembly will be delivered to decision-makers, political parties and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment ahead of the parliamentary elections in spring 2027.
The aim of the work is to identify feasible solutions to challenges related to demographic change and skills, and to support decision-making on work-based immigration.
Read more about the topic on the main page of the citizens’ assembly on work-based immigration.
* * *
More detailed information on the composition of the citizens’ assembly is provided below. The table presents the numbers (n) and proportions (%) of those who registered as volunteers and of those who confirmed their participation, by quota criteria.
| Age | Participants | % | Volunteers | % | Population |
| 18–24 | 13 | 12,3 % | 148 | 9,2 % | 9,6 % |
| 25–44 | 34 | 32,1 % | 610 | 38,1 % | 31,8 % |
| 45–64 | 34 | 32,1 % | 532 | 33,2 % | 29,7 % |
| 65+ | 25 | 23,6 % | 311 | 19,4 % | 29,0 % |
| Gender | Participants | % | Volunteers | % | Population |
| Male | 52 | 49,1 % | 718 | 44,8 % | 49,2 % |
| Female | 54 | 50,9 % | 860 | 53,7 % | 50,8 % |
| Education | Participants | % | Volunteers | % | Population |
| Basic education | 6 | 5,7 % | 77 | 4,8 % | 6,4 % |
| Upper secondary | 51 | 48,1 % | 463 | 28,9 % | 49,2 % |
| Higher education | 49 | 46,2 % | 1061 | 66,3 % | 44,3 % |
| Region | Participants | % | Volunteers | % | Population (aged 20+) |
| Uusimaa | 33 | 31,1 % | 595 | 37,2 % | 31,6 % |
| Southwest Finland | 10 | 9,4 % | 146 | 9,1 % | 9,0 % |
| Satakunta | 3 | 2,8 % | 50 | 3,1 % | 3,8 % |
| Kanta-Häme | 3 | 2,8 % | 48 | 3,0 % | 3,0 % |
| Pirkanmaa | 10 | 9,4 % | 153 | 9,6 % | 9,8 % |
| Päijät-Häme | 4 | 3,8 % | 52 | 3,2 % | 3,7 % |
| Kymen-laakso | Fewer than 3 | Less than 2 % | 44 | 2,7 % | 2,9 % |
| South Karelia | 5 | 4,7 % | 39 | 2,4 % | 2,3 % |
| South Savo | 3 | 2,8 % | 35 | 2,2 % | 2,4 % |
| North Savo | 4 | 3,8 % | 54 | 3,4 % | 4,5 % |
| North Karelia | 4 | 3,8 % | 39 | 2,4 % | 3,0 % |
| Central Finland | 4 | 3,8 % | 77 | 4,8 % | 4,9 % |
| South Ostro-bothnia | 4 | 3,8 % | 37 | 2,3 % | 3,3 % |
| Ostro-bothnia | Fewer than 3 | Less than 2 % | 46 | 2,9 % | 3,1 % |
| Central Ostro-bothnia | Fewer than 3 | Less than 2 % | 15 | 0,9 % | 1,1 % |
| North Ostro-bothnia | 10 | 9,4 % | 129 | 8,1 % | 7,1 % |
| Kainuu | Fewer than 3 | Less than 2 % | 8 | 0,5 % | 1,3 % |
| Lapland | Fewer than 3 | Less than 2 % | 34 | 2,1 % | 3,2 % |
| Place of birth | Participants | % | Volunteers | % | Population |
| Outside Finland | 11 | 10,4 % | 280 | 17,5 % | 11,6 % |
| In Finland | 95 | 89,6 % | 1321 | 82,5 % | 88,4 % |
| Party preference | Participants | % | Volunteers | % | Parliamentary election 2023 / Volunteers* |
| National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) | 16 | 15,1 % | 220 | 13,7 % | 14,9 % |
| Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset) | 15 | 14,2 % | 115 | 7,2 % | 14,4 % |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) | 17 | 16,0 % | 248 | 15,5 % | 14,3 % |
| Centre Party (Keskusta) | 9 | 8,5 % | 119 | 7,4 % | 8,1 % |
| Left Alliance (Vasemmistoliitto) | 6 | 5,7 % | 183 | 11,4 % | 5,1 % |
| Green League (Vihreät) | 6 | 5,7 % | 154 | 9,6 % | 5,0 % |
| Swedish People’s Party (RKP) | Fewer than 4 | Less than 3 % | 29 | 1,8 % | 3,1 % |
| Christian Democrats (Kristillis-demokraatit) | Fewer than 4 | Less than 3 % | 26 | 1,6 % | 3,0 % |
| Movement Now (Liike Nyt) | Fewer than 4 | Less than 3 % | 20 | 1,2 % | 1,7 % |
| Would not vote / cannot say / no information / other | 32 | 30,2 % | 487 | 30,4 % | 30,4 % |
| Total | 106 | 1601 |
*As a benchmark for party support, we used each party’s share of the total votes received by all parliamentary parties in the 2023 parliamentary election. For those who did not report a party preference and those who support a party outside the parliamentary parties, the benchmark used is their share among the volunteers.
