Care workers in elderly services report sharp decline in job sustainability

A new survey by the Finnish Union for Practical Nurses (Super) shows that staffing cuts and government austerity measures have pushed elderly care services into crisis, with nearly 90% of respondents reporting increased mental strain at work.

The union’s February 2026 survey of over 3,800 care workers in elderly services reveals a significant deterioration in working conditions compared to 2024. Nearly 80% of respondents said their workload had accelerated, while 70% reported increased physical demands. Almost 40% stated they never have enough time for clients, with indirect tasks like cleaning and laundry reducing time spent on direct care.

Only 30% of respondents were confident they could continue in their current role for another two years due to health concerns. Over half would not recommend their job to others—a slight increase from 2024. The survey also found that just over a quarter of workers saw any impact from reporting misconduct or legal violations, with 16% admitting they had not reported issues despite observing them, primarily due to fear of repercussions.

Super’s chair, Päivi Inberg, attributed the crisis to reduced staffing ratios—lowered from 0.65 to 0.6 at the start of 2025—and government cost-cutting. The union had previously noted improvements in 2024, linked to 24/7 care staffing legislation introduced in late 2020, but those gains have now reversed.

Finnish law requires care staff to report observed misconduct or illegal practices in service provision.