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Published: 26 November 2014

In the midst of uncertainty, positive changes in working conditions also visible

Statistics Finland’s Quality of Work Life Survey 2013 shows that uncertainty has grown considerably in Finnish working life over the past years. Simultaneously, there has also been a lot of positive development in working conditions and the appreciation of work has grown.

Those who have experienced threat of dismissal or temporary lay-off, share of wage and salary earners

Statistics Finland, Quality of Work Life Survey 1977 – 2013.

According to the 2013 survey, one-fifth of wage and salary earners experience threat of dismissal and nearly one-quarter fear temporary lay-offs. In more than one-quarter's workplaces personnel has been reduced in the past three years.

The corresponding shares have not been this high in any of the previous Quality of Work Life Surveys that Statistics Finland has been carrying out since 1977. It should, however, be noted that during the deepest recession in the 1990s, similar data were not collected.

Appreciation of paid work has increased

Uncertainty and the scarcity of work increase the appreciation of work. Paid work is seen as a crucial area of life more commonly than five years ago. Satisfaction with one's current job in general and with different aspects of work has increased clearly from 2008. Wage and salary earners’ satisfaction with social relationships in the workplace and the management style have improved in particular.

Those who are extremely satisfied with their current job and its various aspects

Statistics Finland, Quality of Work Life Survey 2008 and 2013.

Strengthening of social relationships in the workplace and finding the atmosphere in the workplace to be open and encouraging also become highlighted in several other indicators of the Quality of Work Life Survey. The fact that experiences of time pressure have eased to some extent is also probably connected to economic trends.

Finland still does well in international comparisons as regards low hierarchies in working communities, application of IT and frequency of team work. Employees in Finland view their possibilities of development at work and of receiving training and influencing their tasks as better than employees in other European countries.

For 36 years, Statistics Finland has been conducting extensive interview-based work life surveys, which describe the varied changes in employees’ working conditions. The current publication on the Quality of Work Life Survey 2013 draws together these development trends of nearly forty years.

Source: Quality of Work Life Survey, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Hanna Sutela 029 551 2907, Anna-Maija Lehto 029 551 3223, tyoelama@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

Publication in pdf-format (183.8 kB)

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Updated 26.11.2014