Working Life Barometer 2023: More support for continuous learning needed at workplaces

According to the Working Life Barometer, nearly three quarters of employees considered their possibilities to reconcile work and other life good in 2023. On the other hand, there is plenty of room for improvement in competence development at workplaces.

The experiences concerning the threat of dismissal were largely unchanged from 2022. By contrast, more employees, especially men, estimated that they could be laid off. Fewer people than before were confident that they could find a new job. Those in the oldest age groups, especially those over 54 years of age, were the most pessimistic about finding new employment. In addition, fewer employees reported increases to the number of personnel at their workplace compared with 2022. 

Despite external pressures, employees considered that the atmosphere at workplaces has remained good. This is reflected in experiences of equal treatment, open flow of information and ability to resolve conflicts arising at the workplace.  

Time pressure is common at work, although it has decreased slightly from previous years. In 2023, a quarter of employees said they worked on a tight schedule or at a very fast pace daily, while 37 per cent said they had to do so weekly. It is concerning that those under 35 years, in particular, had more symptoms of burnout and harmful stress than on average, according to the Working Life Barometer. 

Fewer employees participate in training offered by employers 

Participation in training offered by employers has remained at a lower level since the coronavirus pandemic. In the best years before the pandemic, more than half of employees participated in training offered by the employer. However, the number of participants has remained at 40 per cent for three consecutive years now. This is lowest percentage ever since the Working Life Barometer began surveying participation in training in 2001.

Approximately a half of employees studied independently, but their number also fell in 2023. Studying under the guidance of a more experienced employee, mentor or teacher also decreased compared with the previous year. Participation in continuous learning shrank the most among those doing manual work and those employed in industry and small workplaces.

What is the Working Life Barometer?

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment produces an annual Working Life Barometer to monitor employees’ experiences of the quality of working life. The Barometer is a sample survey that has been conducted since 1992. In 2023, 2003 employees responded to the survey either online or in a telephone interview. The data can reliably be generalised to apply to employees everywhere in Finland and in all sectors.

Inquiries:

Maija Lyly-Yrjänäinen, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 297