As global migration continues to grow – in 2020, there were 281 million international migrants compared to 249 million in 2015 (IOM, 2020) – it remains imperative to advance research on this topic in IB) literature. In addition to the well-known migration destinations in Anglo-Saxon countries, small developed countries have become increasingly popular due to the opportunities they offer for human development. These countries often face aging population, which could be solved by attracting more highly skilled migrants (HSM). However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, some of these countries have implemented more stringent migrant policies. In addition, such countries often have rather difficult language as well as cultural tightness and inaccessibility. As a result, migrants might face more challenges in these countries compared to Anglo-Saxon countries. Our study aims to shed light on this phenomenon through a qualitative examination of migration context and experiences of HSM in both Finland and Slovenia. We chose these two countries as they are characterized by strict migration policies, culturally inaccessible environments, and complex languages, offering a great setting for exploring the multifaceted challenges migrants face. Additionally, this study could inform and enhance migrant integration efforts of countries with similar characteristics.
