Finnish defence forces warn of young soldiers leaving over work-life balance

The Finnish Defence Forces are concerned that young soldiers may leave their careers due to difficulties balancing work and family life, mirroring trends seen in Norway and Denmark, Yle reports.

Ville Viita, chair of the Officers’ Union, told Yle that younger generations prioritise family more than previous cohorts, making them less willing to sacrifice personal life for military service. While recruitment remains strong, retention is becoming a challenge.

“There’s a risk Finland could follow Norway and Denmark, where young soldiers are leaving,” Viita said. He stressed the need for a career structure that allows for life beyond military duties, noting that current workloads—exacerbated by Finland’s NATO membership and the Ukraine war—are pushing personnel to exhaustion.

Mika Tiitinen, chair of the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Union, echoed these concerns, calling for urgent updates to the 1970s-era working time regulations. “The world has changed. We need to focus on recovery and sustainability,” he said, while acknowledging the high motivation of defence personnel.

Colonel Marko Hirsimäki of the Defence Command’s personnel division described staff operational capacity as a “critical resource,” requiring daily attention. He confirmed that fatigue and burnout are significant issues, with extended exercises, naval deployments, and 24/7 availability leaving little time for recovery.

The Defence Forces now face the task of adapting policies to meet evolving expectations, as patriotism alone may no longer suffice to retain young talent.