2. Opening

In her welcoming address, Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, highlighted the growing importance of examining the impact of parenthood on integration in the Nordic context.

Ellemann addressed the challenges associated with integrating immigrants, particularly women, into the workforce, noting that becoming a parent often affects women’s employment opportunities.

She also emphasised the Nordic region’s diversity and underscored the need for broad participation in the labour market to sustain the high living standards in the region.

In his welcoming address, Mats Persson, Minister for Employment and Integration in Sweden, highlighted the conference as a prime example of Nordic cooperation between countries, and organisations within the countries.

He praised the Nordic model, which he noted is built on trust in the welfare state and a strong commitment to gender equality, as perhaps the best societal framework in the world.

In keeping with the overarching theme of the conference, Mats Persson referenced a new report on labour market integration of migrant mothers and fathers in the Nordic countries. He stressed the findings of the report, which was presented at the conference (see Chapter 3), and flagged up the importance of improving migrant parents’ labour market integration.

Persson noted that many migrants arrive in Sweden in their childbearing years. Thus, their first years in Sweden are often focused on raising children, which is a situation that particularly concerns women and long-term will affect their ability to integrate in the labour market.

He emphasised the shared Nordic goal of rapid integration, ensuring that newcomers quickly establish themselves in the workforce to avoid prolonged dependence on social support. Persson stated that self-sufficiency is key to dignity and independence.

The minister also highlighted the importance of shared values, referencing the Nordic commitment to gender equality and children’s rights. These values could sometimes clash with those of some newcomers, necessitating joint efforts to bridge differences. Acknowledging the challenges, Persson stressed the need to balance opportunities with responsibilities, ensuring new arrivals meet societal expectations and uphold civic duties.

Persson concluded by emphasising the similarities among Nordic countries, which uniquely position the Nordics to learn from one another’s experiences and solutions.