The intercultural city - cultural diversity and the creation of wealth

1. The intercultural city - cultural diversity and the creation of wealth The benefits of diversity – conference Oslo 18.01.07 Benedicte Brøgger Arbeidsforskningsinstituttet

2. Aims of the project Explore factors critical for Oslo minorities’ contribution to growth: • Employment, workplace development • Innovation, new workplaces, new companies, new products, markets • Urban development, environment, social climate, networks, arenas

3. The Intercultural city project • The main focus: • Diversity as a resource, not a problem, interculturalism • Organisation: • International project coordinated by COMEDIA, a London based think-tank • Products: • Thematic studies, key person studies, case studies of cities in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. National case studies are completed, comparison between the cities in progress. More information at www.interculturalcity.com. • The case studies in Norway, in the cities of Drammen and Oslo, were done by Norconsult og Arbeidsforskningsinstituttet 2005/2006 • Financed by: • Drammen and Oslo with funding from the National Directorate for Integration and Diversity (IMDI)

4. The immigrants Total population: 538 411 Born in Norway: 414 520 Immigrants: 123 891 (23%) Source: SSB

5. A ”colourful community”? Source: SSB

6. Employment by sector • Unemployment rates are from 2-4 times higher among immigrants • Rate of participation in the workforce is lower (considerably lower among women and some groups) • Good jobs and relevant jobs are harder to get Source: SSB

7. Non-western immigrants as entrepreneurs • More non-Western immigrants than Norwegians establish their own companies Source: SSB

8. Is concentration in a few economic sectors positive or negative? • Better possibilities for networks, credit, expertice, identity, belonging • Inclusion reduces chances of negative lock-ins • Sectors with desperate need for workers recruit immigrants too, and more so in the present economic boom, now is a golden opportunity

9. Geographic concentration • Housing prices are the most decisive factor • Social relation within own group is important for establishing a platform for participation • There are few tangets with Norwegian worklife and its formal and informal organisations/networks

10. Is geographic concentration of minorities positive or negative? • Own home is an important source of capital for entrepreneurs • Here there are networks and social relations that make minority groups more robust • Relations with other groups and the Norwegian society may be weaker

11. Main conclusion from a literature survey Social and institutional conditions favourable to the immigrants’ own possibilities to act are the most effective integration mechanisms

12. Important conclusion from the dialogue conference We know what the problems are, we know solutions to them. Now, please, may we get something done?

13. What more can be done? • Oslo city has worked systematically and with many good results for years, and has been able to learn from failed attempts • Civil and community organisations have worked systematically for years • Collaboration with worklife stakeholders needs to be strengthened • Finance for establishment of small companies, especially in the trade and service sector is needed • Faster and more extensive acceptance of foreign qualifications from other countries is needed • Define cultural competence (language, networks, international experience) as a requirement for employment