Development of working life is a joint process

Technological change and globalisation, various crises, demographic structure and climate change speed up the transformation of working life. A good, productive and ecologically sustainable working life creates wellbeing in society. Coping with changes in working life requires competent and healthy workforce and a quicker renewal of practices at workplaces. 

Developing working life means inputs into acquisition of skills, activities, products and services. Efforts to reform activities are successful when they are based on trust and cooperation and they are well-managed and part of everyday work. Successful workplaces create innovations, growth and new jobs. 

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment follows changes in working life and disseminates information. Finnish working life has a number of strengths, including 

  • high level of competence and participation
  • on-the-job learning and training opportunities
  • digital competence
  • reconciliation of work with family life
  • cooperation and networking, equality and low hierarchies

Research data is used in working life development

The Ministry is developing working life in cooperation with labour market organisations, other ministries, expert organisations and research institutes. In this work, research information is applied at workplaces on the basis of their needs. Workplaces can seek public funding for their development activities.

Finland has long traditions in the programmatic development of working life, the latest of which is the ongoing WORK 2030 programme. The programme helps sectors and workplaces to reform their activities, starting from their needs.  

Services intended for companies are available on the Suomi.fi website


Further information:
Antti Närhinen, antti.narhinen(at)gov.fi
Maija Lyly-Yrjänäinen, maija.lyly-yrjanainen(at)gov.fi
Tiina Hanhike, tiina.hanhike(at)gov.fi
Päivi Järviniemi, paivi.jarviniemi(at)gov.fi
Johanna Slaney, johanna.slaney(at)gov.fi