Finnish workplace wellbeing and performance trends

Recent surveys in Finland have highlighted different aspects of the domestic labor market, focusing on workplace environment and individual performance.

An earlier survey commissioned by Suomen Yrittäjät found that smaller workplaces with fewer than ten employees tend to score highest regarding trust, equal treatment, and work-life balance. In these settings, 71% of respondents reported a trusting atmosphere, and many participants ranked team spirit and work atmosphere above salary as primary drivers of job satisfaction.

In contrast, a subsequent study by Verian for LähiTapiola focused on individual output, revealing that only 30% of Finnish workers feel they perform at an optimal level. Approximately 65% of respondents believe they are unable to achieve their best possible performance, which is defined as a balance between professional goals, personal well-being, and effective task completion. While older workers (aged 55–64) reported higher levels of optimal performance, experts cautioned that tying self-worth strictly to work performance can lead to long-term negative consequences.