Tekijät

• Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA)
• Yhdyskuntatutkimus
• Taloustutkimus

Asiasanat

conditions of employment, immigration, job characteristics, occupational life, working conditions

Sisällön kuvaus

The main themes of this survey were occupational life, working conditions in Finnish workplaces, national economy, employment, time use and work-life balance. Other topics included the significance of certain job characteristics and paid work in general.

First, the respondents were asked whether they agreed with a number of statements relating to working life and the Finnish society. The statements pertained, for instance, to job security, employment situation, financial crisis, equality, pension system, aging work force, income tax, entrepreneurship, trade unions, immigration and market economy.

The next set of questions probed views on the importance of certain job/work characteristics to the respondents. The characteristics mentioned included full-time work, permanent contract, flexible or regular working hours, supervisor/manager characteristics, autonomy at work, secure job, working atmosphere, interesting job, wage level, good career prospects etc.

One theme pertained to time use. The respondents were asked whether they would like to use more or less time on paid work, household work, family activities, friends, leisure time activities, and participation in political or voluntary activities.

A number of questions focused on perceptions of paid work, to what extent it was only a necessity to finance life and hobbies, to earn a living and to what extent it was a source for self-esteem, a privilege or a duty, whether it meant continuous physical or mental stress, unjust treatment, continuous change, solidarity with employer, possibility to demonstrate skills etc.

Finally, the respondents evaluated how likely it was that certain changes would take place in occupational life in Finland. The changes mentioned included, for instance, loss of permanent jobs, weakening of trade union influence, increase in part-time work, increase in entrepreneurship, new jobs in the service industry or in manufacturing, deteriorating working atmosphere, people working longer before retirement etc.

Background variables included, among others, the respondent's gender, age group, education, economic activity and occupational status, industry of employment, region of residence, employer type, type of employment contract, self-perceived social status, and number of inhabitants in the municipality of residence.