New information is collected concerning employees' working conditions

Statistics Finland launched the seventh nationwide study concerning employees' working conditions at the beginning of September. By the end of the year, nearly 5,000 persons will be interviewed in the Quality of Work Life Survey 2013. The survey studies, for example, thoughts on retirement by those approaching retirement age, work arrangements that are independent of time and place, reconciliation of work and family life, discrimination and temporary agency work.

Quality of Work Life Surveys have been conducted at approximately five-year intervals since 1977. It is the only nationwide survey with which one can describe long-term changes in working conditions. Statistics Finland's Quality of Work Life Surveys form an unusually long time series even by international comparison. Time series data up to today have been compiled in the publication Three decades of working conditions .

The data of the Quality of Work Life Survey are widely used in research and development concerning work life and for making labour policy decisions.

In addition to Statistics Finland, the data collection of the Quality of Work Life Survey is financed by the Finnish Work Environment Fund, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Keva, the State Treasury, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the Finnish Centre for Pensions, the Centre for Occupational Safety, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, and the Rehabilitation Foundation. The data are collected by Statistics Finland's own, nationwide network of interviewers.

Further information: Hanna Sutela, Senior Researcher +358 9 1734 2907, Anna-Maija Lehto, Head of Research +358 9 1734 3223