Finland youth employment and income trends show growing gender disparities

Recent data highlights growing economic disparities among young adults in Finland, particularly concerning young men. According to an STTK purchasing power review, the incomes of individuals under 35 are 10–15 percent lower than they were before the financial crisis. A notable divergence in income development has emerged between men and women aged 25–34 following the pandemic; while women in social and healthcare sectors saw wage increases, men in the same age group experienced relative declines.

Unemployment is a significant factor in this trend. The unemployment rate for men aged 25–34 has risen to approximately two percentage points higher than that of women in the same age bracket. Furthermore, long-term unemployment is a growing concern, with men accounting for an estimated 60–80 percent of young people unemployed for at least one year.

Complementary data from a Bigbank survey regarding summer employment shows that 67 percent of 18–25-year-olds secured work last summer, despite a three-year decline in available summer job openings. The survey noted a gender wage gap in seasonal work, with a median monthly salary of approximately 1,750 euros for young men compared to 1,250 euros for young women. While 65 percent of young workers saved a portion of their earnings, one in five reported being unable to save any money at all.