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Published: 17 March 2022

Share of working students decreased in 2020

According to Statistics Finland's Education Statistics, employment among students aged at least 18 decreased by 4.7 percentage points in 2020 from the previous year. Working while studying decreased most for students in general upper secondary education. Working was most common in connection with university and university of applied sciences studies. Fifty-one per cent of university students and 53 per cent of university of applied sciences students had an employment relationship while studying. In all, 43 per cent of students in vocational education and 25 per cent of students in general upper secondary education were employed during studies.

Shares of employed students aged at least 18 of all students in 2011–2020

Women worked while studying more generally than men: 50 per cent of women and 42 per cent of men had an employment relationship while studying. Twenty-eight per cent of women in general upper secondary education were working alongside studies and 20 per cent of men. Of women studying in vocational education, 46 per cent were employed while studying and 39 per cent of men. Fifty-four per cent of women and 44 per cent of men studying for a university of applied sciences degree were employed while studying. Altogether 58 per cent of women and 57 per cent of men studying for a Master's degree were employed during studies.

There were differences in working during studies among different age groups. In all, 23 per cent of 18-year-old students, 33 per cent of 21-year-old students and 46 per cent of 24-year-old students had an employment relationship. Among students aged 25 or over, 58 per cent were employed during their studies.

Employment of students during studies varied by field of education. At the end of 2020, altogether 57 per cent of students in the fields of business, administration and law, 56 per cent of students in education, 56 per cent of students in health and welfare, 54 per cent of students in social sciences, and 40 per cent of students in humanities and arts had a valid employment relationship.

Employment during studies was more common than average for the whole country in the regions of Uusimaa, Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, South Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, Lapland and Åland.

More detailed information about students' employment can be found in the database tables. Information about employment of students can also be found in the Employment statistics , where the population of students differs in some respects. More information related to the progress of studies is available from the statistics on Progress of studies and Discontinuation of education .

Source: Education. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Vesa Hämäläinen 029 551 2594, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Employment of students aged at least 18 years in 2020 and the share of employed students of all students in 2008-2020 (17.3.2022)
• Appendix table 2. Employment of students aged at least 18 by level of education and gender in 2020 (17.3.2022)
• Appendix table 3. Students and employed students aged at least 18 years by level of education and age in 2020 (17.3.2022)

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Updated 17.3.2022