Work conditions in Finland

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

Normal working hours are eight hours per day and 40 hours per week.

Retirement Age

Employees can retire with a pension between the ages of 63 and 68.

Working Contracts

Contracts can be either permanent contracts that remain valid for the time being or for a fixed term (specified in the contract). Permanent contracts (including permanent part-time contracts) represent 86% of the jobs where else the representation of fixed term contracts (including part-time fixed term contracts) is around 14%. The number of people working under fixed term contracts is growing rapidly.

Labour Laws

Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the labor regulations that apply to local entreprises.

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

There is no standard minimum wage in Finland. Minimum wages are based on collective agreements. Employer organisations to which employers are members, work together to conclude a collective agreement applicable in the sector. An employer who is not a member of the employer organisation is also required to follow the generally binding collective agreement applicable in the sector.

Average Wage

The median gross monthly salary in 2020 was EUR 3,228 (Statistics Finland, lastest available data).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: Pension insurance: 7.15% (8.65% for employees aged 53 to 62)
Unemployment insurance: 1.51%
Health insurance contribution: 0.53% (1.71% for employees earning at least EUR 15,128 per annum)
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: Disease and maternity contribution: 1,71%; occupational pensions: between 7,15% and 8,65% depending on the age ; unemployment: 1,40%.

Social Partners

Employer Associations

EK - Confederation of Finnish Industry and Employers
YRITTAJAT - Federation of Finnish Enterprises
EK - Confederation of Finnish Industries

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners

Unions in Finland are occupation-based. There are around 70 trade unions in Finland and they organise employees in all types of work. Finland’s three labour confederations are SAK, STTK and AKAVA. SAK represents around 1,100,000 wage-earners from industries such as manufacturing, private sectors, transport, local and state sectors.  STTK represents around 650,000 employees from industries such as nurses, engineers, police officers and secretaries. AKAVA represents around 350,000 professionals and managerial employees.

Labour Unions

Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (AKAVA)
Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK)

Unionisation Rate

The level of Finnish employees’ unionisation is among the highest in the industrialised world. 69% of employees belong to a trade union in the country (OECD data).

Labour Regulation Bodies

Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Economy
The Confederation of Finnish Industries
International Labour Organisation