A Weighty consortium is financing practical research to find solutions to labour shortages

PRESS RELEASE 6.10.2022

What is life like for foreign employees in Finland? Where can we expect polarisation, and where can we find good models for dealing with changes in working life? How can inter-generational cooperation prevent labour shortages and help people to cope at work?

These questions are being answered in a new research project, Tulevaisuuden Suomen tekijät (Building Finland´s Future – Inclusion and Collaboration in Working Life), which is being funded by Trade Union Pro, the Finnish Association of Private Care Providers HALI, the Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors JHL, the Ministry of Justice, Service Union United PAM, the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT, STTK, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions SAK, Industrial Employees TP, and the Finnish Pension Alliance TELA.

The work itself is being carried out by E2 Research, an independent, multidisciplinary research institute.

- Finland’s ageing population will be reflected in many ways. To be successful, we need to be a country that is attractive to young people, ageing professionals, and an international workforce. And when seeking solutions, we must ensure that human rights are upheld, says Minister of Justice Anna-Maja Henriksson.

- Finland is suffering from a labour shortage, and finding solutions will require both information from workplaces and a new approach. Constructive cooperation across industry boundaries is also particularly important in unpredictable times, which is why we felt it was important to join this research consortium, says Jarkko Eloranta, President of SAK.

- Studies indicate that labour shortages in the Finnish construction industry are worse than elsewhere in Europe, and companies in the sector expect recruitment to remain challenging. It’s important for us to understand what employees are thinking, so that experts will remain in the industry and we can attract more professionals from both Finland and abroad, says Aleksi Randell, CEO and Director General of the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries.

- This research project will not only highlight practical problems in working life, but also good solutions that can be applied in a variety of sectors. Research data will help to combat both labour shortages and the problems they cause in society, says Karina Jutila, Director of E2 Research.

The research project is taking a multidisciplinary approach. Data is being collected through interviews, surveys, workshops, and observations made at workplaces. Manual workers are the subject of the research.

Juha Antila (SAK) is the Chair of the project’s steering group, and Arja Laitinen (HALI) is the Vice Chair.

Additional information:
Project Director, D.Soc.Sc., Adjunct Professor
Ville Pitkänen
E2 Research
ville.pitkanen@e2.fi
+358 40 7770 869