Finns increasingly see work as a means to fund other parts of life

Only 14 percent of Finns would continue working if they did not need the money, according to a new survey by the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EVA).

The study, published in autumn 2025, found that 61 percent of respondents now view work primarily as a way to finance more interesting activities—a 14 percentage point rise since 2010. The survey included 2,038 participants.

Attitudes vary sharply by age. Among those aged 26–35, just one-third consider work the most important part of life, compared to 72 percent of those over 65. However, the youngest group, aged 18–25, aligns with the national average, with 43 percent seeing work as central to their lives.

Leisure time is highly valued: 35 percent of employed Finns would prefer to spend less time on paid work, and 43 percent would accept a pay cut for shorter hours. Ten percent, meanwhile, would choose to work more.

“Finns’ work ethic has not collapsed, but the intrinsic value of work has diminished,” said EVA research director Ilkka Haavisto in a statement.